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Protein / target

Beta-arrestin-2

Encoded byARRB2P32121Homo sapiensSwiss-Prot
Antibody-tractable
Druggability
GO CC high conf
2
Research papers

Protein at a glance

Biological role

Protein-macromolecule adaptor

Strongest disease association

Neoplasms

Via encoding gene ARRB2 · Pathway evidence · score 0.60

Research activity

Emerging research

2 papers · latest 2024

Derived from structured UniProt, Open Targets and literature data on this page.

Protein profile

UniProt 2026_02

Canonical identity and biological annotation from UniProt.

Function overview

Functions in regulating agonist-mediated G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling by mediating both receptor desensitization and resensitization processes.

View complete UniProt function annotation

Functions in regulating agonist-mediated G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling by mediating both receptor desensitization and resensitization processes (PubMed:16179383, PubMed:37209686, PubMed:38175886, PubMed:40384633). During homologous desensitization, beta-arrestins bind to the GPCR-phosphorylated receptor and sterically preclude its coupling to the cognate G protein; the binding appears to require additional receptor determinants exposed only in the active receptor conformation (PubMed:16179383, PubMed:37209686, PubMed:38175886, PubMed:40384633). The beta-arrestins target many receptors for internalization by acting as endocytic adapters (CLASPs, clathrin-associated sorting proteins) and recruiting the GPRCs to the adapter protein 2 complex 2 (AP-2) in clathrin-coated pits (CCPs). However, the extent of beta-arrestin involvement appears to vary significantly depending on the receptor, agonist and cell type. Internalized arrestin-receptor complexes traffic to intracellular endosomes, where they remain uncoupled from G proteins. Two different modes of arrestin-mediated internalization occur. Class A receptors, like ADRB2, OPRM1, ENDRA, D1AR and ADRA1B dissociate from beta-arrestin at or near the plasma membrane and undergo rapid recycling. Class B receptors, like AVPR2, AGTR1, NTSR1, TRHR and TACR1 internalize as a complex with arrestin and traffic with it to endosomal vesicles, presumably as desensitized receptors, for extended periods of time. Receptor resensitization then requires that receptor-bound arrestin is removed so that the receptor can be dephosphorylated and returned to the plasma membrane. Mediates endocytosis of CCR7 following ligation of CCL19 but not CCL21. Involved in internalization of P2RY1, P2RY4, P2RY6 and P2RY11 and ATP-stimulated internalization of P2RY2. Involved in phosphorylation-dependent internalization of OPRD1 and subsequent recycling or degradation. Involved in ubiquitination of IGF1R. Beta-arrestins function as multivalent adapter proteins that can switch the GPCR from a G protein signaling mode that transmits short-lived signals from the plasma membrane via small molecule second messengers and ion channels to a beta-arrestin signaling mode that transmits a distinct set of signals that are initiated as the receptor internalizes and transits the intracellular compartment. Acts as a signaling scaffold for MAPK pathways such as MAPK1/3 (ERK1/2) and MAPK10 (JNK3). ERK1/2 and JNK3 activated by the beta-arrestin scaffold are largely excluded from the nucleus and confined to cytoplasmic locations such as endocytic vesicles, also called beta-arrestin signalosomes. Acts as a signaling scaffold for the AKT1 pathway. GPCRs for which the beta-arrestin-mediated signaling relies on both ARRB1 and ARRB2 (codependent regulation) include ADRB2, F2RL1 and PTH1R. For some GPCRs the beta-arrestin-mediated signaling relies on either ARRB1 or ARRB2 and is inhibited by the other respective beta-arrestin form (reciprocal regulation). Increases ERK1/2 signaling in AGTR1- and AVPR2-mediated activation (reciprocal regulation). Involved in CCR7-mediated ERK1/2 signaling involving ligand CCL19. Is involved in type-1A angiotensin II receptor/AGTR1-mediated ERK activity. Is involved in type-1A angiotensin II receptor/AGTR1-mediated MAPK10 activity. Is involved in dopamine-stimulated AKT1 activity in the striatum by disrupting the association of AKT1 with its negative regulator PP2A. Involved in AGTR1-mediated chemotaxis. Appears to function as signaling scaffold involved in regulation of MIP-1-beta-stimulated CCR5-dependent chemotaxis. Involved in attenuation of NF-kappa-B-dependent transcription in response to GPCR or cytokine stimulation by interacting with and stabilizing CHUK. Suppresses UV-induced NF-kappa-B-dependent activation by interacting with CHUK. The function is promoted by stimulation of ADRB2 and dephosphorylation of ARRB2. Involved in p53/TP53-mediated apoptosis by regulating MDM2 and reducing the MDM2-mediated degradation of p53/TP53. May serve as nuclear messenger for GPCRs. Upon stimulation of OR1D2, may be involved in regulation of gene expression during the early processes of fertilization. Also involved in regulation of receptors other than GPCRs. Involved in endocytosis of TGFBR2 and TGFBR3 and down-regulates TGF-beta signaling such as NF-kappa-B activation. Involved in endocytosis of low-density lipoprotein receptor/LDLR. Involved in both localization to primary cilium and endocytosis of smoothened (SMO) in a GRK2-dependent process (PubMed:15618519). Involved in endocytosis of SLC9A5. Involved in endocytosis of ENG and subsequent TGF-beta-mediated ERK activation and migration of epithelial cells. Involved in Toll-like receptor and IL-1 receptor signaling through the interaction with TRAF6 which prevents TRAF6 autoubiquitination and oligomerization required for activation of NF-kappa-B and JUN (PubMed:26839314). Involved in insulin resistance by acting as insulin-induced signaling scaffold for SRC, AKT1 and INSR. Involved in regulation of inhibitory signaling of natural killer cells by recruiting PTPN6 and PTPN11 to KIR2DL1. Involved in IL8-mediated granule release in neutrophils. Involved in the internalization of the atypical chemokine receptor ACKR3. Acts as an adapter protein coupling FFAR4 receptor to specific downstream signaling pathways, as well as mediating receptor endocytosis (PubMed:22282525, PubMed:23809162). During the activation step of NLRP3 inflammasome, directly associates with NLRP3 leading to inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokine release and inhibition of inflammation (PubMed:23809162)

Subcellular location

CytoplasmNucleusCell membraneMembrane, clathrin-coated pitCytoplasmic vesicle
Domains and Gene Ontology detail (51)

Gene Ontology

  • Cclathrin-coated pit
  • Ccytoplasm
  • Ccytoplasmic vesicle
  • Ccytosol
  • Cendocytic vesicle
  • Cendocytic vesicle membrane
  • Cglutamatergic synapse
  • Cnucleus
  • Cplasma membrane
  • Cpostsynapse
  • Fangiotensin receptor binding
  • FD1 dopamine receptor binding

409 aa · 46 kDa · 5 isoforms

Biological roles

What this protein does, drawn together from its UniProt function, Gene Ontology terms and Reactome pathways.

Cell migrationUniProt · GOExcitatory neurotransmissionGOLipid & lipoprotein metabolismUniProtG protein-coupled signallingUniProt · GOImmune signallingUniProt · GOTranscriptional regulationUniProt · GO
View supporting evidence

Cell migration

  • ·Functions in regulating agonist-mediated G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling by…
  • ·cell chemotaxis

Excitatory neurotransmission

  • ·glutamatergic synapse
  • ·excitatory postsynaptic potential

Lipid & lipoprotein metabolism

  • ·Functions in regulating agonist-mediated G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling by…

G protein-coupled signalling

  • ·Functions in regulating agonist-mediated G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling by…
  • ·G protein-coupled receptor binding
  • ·desensitization of G protein-coupled receptor signaling pathway
  • ·G protein-coupled receptor internalization

Immune signalling

  • ·Functions in regulating agonist-mediated G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling by…
  • ·negative regulation of interleukin-1 beta production
  • ·negative regulation of interleukin-12 production
  • ·negative regulation of interleukin-6 production

Transcriptional regulation

  • ·Functions in regulating agonist-mediated G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling by…
  • ·positive regulation of gene expression
  • ·transcription by RNA polymerase II

Concepts derived from UniProt GO Reactome — each badge above shows which sources supported that role.

Translational evidence

Open Targets 26

Why this target matters therapeutically, strongest evidence first. Disease associations are gene-level (via the gene that encodes this protein) and open into the full confidence synthesis; the development universe, tractability and safety annotations are target-level, from Open Targets.

Strongest disease associations · via encoding gene ARRB2

Gene-level evidence surfaced through the gene ARRB2that encodes this protein — not a direct protein–disease relationship. Ranked by Forefront's causal-directness weighting, so genetically- and clinically-evidenced diseases lead over ones that merely share the literature.

Neoplasms
0.42Preliminary

Pathway evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.60 · no direct causal or clinical evidence

Noonan syndrome
0.35Preliminary

Pathway evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.53 · no direct causal or clinical evidence

Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic
0.33Preliminary

Pathway evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.50 · no direct causal or clinical evidence

Costello syndrome
0.33Preliminary

Pathway evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.50 · no direct causal or clinical evidence

Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome
0.24Preliminary

Pathway evidence dominant · Open Targets 0.37 · no direct causal or clinical evidence

View evidence synthesis (5)
NeoplasmsPreliminary
0.42
agreement 0.240.60
Pathway87%Literature13%

Open Targets aggregate 0.60 · 2 independent evidence families · no direct causal or clinical evidence

Noonan syndromePreliminary
0.35
agreement 0.120.57
Pathway100%

Open Targets aggregate 0.53 · 1 independent evidence family · no direct causal or clinical evidence

Cardiomyopathy, HypertrophicPreliminary
0.33
agreement 0.100.56
Pathway100%

Open Targets aggregate 0.50 · 1 independent evidence family · no direct causal or clinical evidence

Costello syndromePreliminary
0.33
agreement 0.100.56
Pathway100%

Open Targets aggregate 0.50 · 1 independent evidence family · no direct causal or clinical evidence

Cardiofaciocutaneous syndromePreliminary
0.24
agreement 0.010.47
Pathway100%

Open Targets aggregate 0.37 · 1 independent evidence family · no direct causal or clinical evidence

The evidence agreement range shows how closely the independent evidence families agree — it is not a statistical confidence interval, and nothing here is fitted to outcome data. Derived from Open Targets evidence types under Forefront weighting; the per-type scores above show the calculation.

Show all associations
Neoplasms0.60
Noonan syndrome0.53
Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic0.50
Costello syndrome0.50
Cardiofaciocutaneous syndrome0.37
Lung carcinoma0.08
Lung Neoplasms0.08
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms0.07

Tractability

AntibodiesEmerging

Feasibility evidence (go cc high conf and uniprot loc med conf) — no clinical-stage drug of this modality recorded.

Protein degradersEmerging

Feasibility evidence (uniprot ubiquitination and database ubiquitination) — no clinical-stage drug of this modality recorded.

View underlying tractability evidence (6)
AB · GO CC high confAB · UniProt loc med confAB · Human Protein Atlas locPR · UniProt UbiquitinationPR · Database UbiquitinationPR · Half-life Data

Raw Open Targets tractability assessment buckets, by modality.

Safety-related annotations

addictionClinPGxadverse eventsClinPGx

Terms indexed against this target in Open Targets' safety data, with their datasource. These are annotations, not causal claims: the direction of effect (whether activation or inhibition is implicated), species and evidence strength are not captured here, so an entry does not mean that modulating this target is known to cause that condition.

Research activity

2 papers · to 2024

Papers linked directly to this protein. This is the protein's own literature — descriptor-derived papers are kept separate below.

Most cited

Recent

Europe PMC papers linked directly to this protein.