Journal of Biological Chemistry
Volume 286, Issue 33, 19 August 2011, Pages 28697-28706
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Signal Transduction
Roles of Phosphorylation-dependent and -independent Mechanisms in the Regulation of Histamine H2 Receptor by G Protein-coupled Receptor Kinase 2*

https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M111.269613Get rights and content
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It is widely assumed that G protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2)-mediated specific inhibition of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) response involves GRK-mediated receptor phosphorylation followed by β-arrestin binding and subsequent uncoupling from the heterotrimeric G protein. It has recently become evident that GRK2-mediated GPCRs regulation also involves phosphorylation-independent mechanisms. In the present study we investigated whether the histamine H2 receptor (H2R), a Gαs-coupled GPCR known to be desensitized by GRK2, needs to be phosphorylated for its desensitization and/or internalization and resensitization. For this purpose we evaluated the effect of the phosphorylating-deficient GRK2K220R mutant on H2R signaling in U937, COS7, and HEK293T cells. We found that although this mutant functioned as dominant negative concerning receptor internalization and resensitization, it desensitized H2R signaling in the same degree as the GRK2 wild type. To identify the domains responsible for the kinase-independent receptor desensitization, we co-transfected the receptor with constructions encoding the GRK2 RGS-homology domain (RH) and the RH or the kinase domain fused to the pleckstrin-homology domain. Results demonstrated that the RH domain of GRK2 was sufficient to desensitize the H2R. Moreover, disruption of RGS functions by the use of GRK2D110A/K220R double mutant, although coimmunoprecipitating with the H2R, reversed GRK2K220R-mediated H2R desensitization. Overall, these results indicate that GRK2 induces desensitization of H2R through a phosphorylation-independent and RGS-dependent mechanism and extends the GRK2 RH domain-mediated regulation of GPCRs beyond Gαq-coupled receptors. On the other hand, GRK2 kinase activity proved to be necessary for receptor internalization and the resulting resensitization.

G Protein-coupled Receptors (GPCR)
Receptor Desensitization
Receptor Endocytosis
Receptor Regulation
RGS Proteins
Signal Transduction
GRKs

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This work is dedicated to the memory of Florinda Morici and Clarisa Muñoz.

*

This work was supported by Universidad de Buenos Aires Grants UBACyT B050 and B808, Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica Grant PICT 38318, and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas Grant CONICET-PIP 6110. This work was also supported by Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas fellowships (to M. N. A.).