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Updated: Aug 10, 2026

Characterization of G Protein-coupled Receptors by a Fluorescence-based Calcium Mobilization Assay
Published on: July 28, 2014
alpha-Actinin is a potent regulator of G protein-coupled receptor kinase activity and substrate specificity in vitro
J L Freeman1, J A Pitcher, X Li
1Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
Abstract:
G protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) phosphorylate G protein-coupled receptors, thereby terminating receptor signaling. Herein we report that alpha-actinin potently inhibits all GRK family members. In addition, calcium-bound calmodulin and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), two regulators of GRK activity, coordinate with alpha-actinin to modulate substrate specificity of the GRKs. In the presence of calmodulin and alpha-actinin, GRK5 phosphorylates soluble, but not membrane-incorporated substrates. In contrast, in the presence of PIP2 and alpha-actinin, GRK5 phosphorylates membrane-incorporated, but not soluble substrates. Thus, modulation of alpha-actinin-mediated inhibition of GRKs by PIP2 and calmodulin has profound effects on both GRK activity and substrate specificity.
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