Selective engagement of G protein coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) encodes distinct functions of biased ligands

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 Jun 16;106(24):9649-54. doi: 10.1073/pnas.0904361106. Epub 2009 Jun 2.

Abstract

CCL19 and CCL21 are endogenous agonists for the seven-transmembrane receptor CCR7. They are equally active in promoting G protein stimulation and chemotaxis. Yet, we find that they result in striking differences in activation of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK)/ss-arrestin system. CCL19 leads to robust CCR7 phosphorylation and beta-arrestin2 recruitment catalyzed by both GRK3 and GRK6 whereas CCL21 activates GRK6 alone. This differential GRK activation leads to distinct functional consequences. Although each ligand leads to beta-arrestin2 recruitment, only CCL19 leads to redistribution of beta-arrestin2-GFP into endocytic vesicles and classical receptor desensitization. In contrast, these agonists are both capable of signaling through GRK6 and beta-arrestin2 to ERK kinases. Thus, this mechanism for "ligand bias" whereby endogenous agonists activate different GRK isoforms leads to functionally distinct pools of beta-arrestin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Arrestins / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinases / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Ligands
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, CCR7 / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction
  • beta-Arrestins

Substances

  • Arrestins
  • CCR7 protein, human
  • Ligands
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, CCR7
  • beta-Arrestins
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinases
  • Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases