Regulation of the epithelial Na+ channel by the RH domain of G protein-coupled receptor kinase, GRK2, and Galphaq/11

J Biol Chem. 2011 Jun 3;286(22):19259-69. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.239772. Epub 2011 Apr 4.

Abstract

The G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK2) belongs to a family of protein kinases that phosphorylates agonist-activated G protein-coupled receptors, leading to G protein-receptor uncoupling and termination of G protein signaling. GRK2 also contains a regulator of G protein signaling homology (RH) domain, which selectively interacts with α-subunits of the Gq/11 family that are released during G protein-coupled receptor activation. We have previously reported that kinase activity of GRK2 up-regulates activity of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) in a Na(+) absorptive epithelium by blocking Nedd4-2-dependent inhibition of ENaC. In the present study, we report that GRK2 also regulates ENaC by a mechanism that does not depend on its kinase activity. We show that a wild-type GRK2 (wtGRK2) and a kinase-dead GRK2 mutant ((K220R)GRK2), but not a GRK2 mutant that lacks the C-terminal RH domain (ΔRH-GRK2) or a GRK2 mutant that cannot interact with Gαq/11/14 ((D110A)GRK2), increase activity of ENaC. GRK2 up-regulates the basal activity of the channel as a consequence of its RH domain binding the α-subunits of Gq/11. We further found that expression of constitutively active Gαq/11 mutants significantly inhibits activity of ENaC. Conversely, co-expression of siRNA against Gαq/11 increases ENaC activity. The effect of Gαq on ENaC activity is not due to change in ENaC membrane expression and is independent of Nedd4-2. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which GRK2 and Gq/11 α-subunits regulate the activity ENaC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Animals
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport / genetics
  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport / metabolism
  • Epithelial Cells / cytology
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels / biosynthesis*
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels / genetics
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 / genetics
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 / metabolism*
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11 / genetics
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11 / metabolism*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / physiology
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Nedd4 Ubiquitin Protein Ligases
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / genetics
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases / metabolism

Substances

  • Endosomal Sorting Complexes Required for Transport
  • Epithelial Sodium Channels
  • NEDD4L protein, rat
  • Nedd4 Ubiquitin Protein Ligases
  • Nedd4 protein, human
  • Nedd4 protein, rat
  • Nedd4L protein, human
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • GRK2 protein, human
  • Grk2 protein, rat
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2
  • GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11