Dissecting the roles of GRK2 and GRK3 in μ-opioid receptor internalization and β-arrestin2 recruitment using CRISPR/Cas9-edited HEK293 cells

Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 15;10(1):17395. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-73674-0.

Abstract

Most G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) recruit β-arrestins and internalize upon agonist stimulation. For the μ-opioid receptor (μ-OR), this process has been linked to development of opioid tolerance. GPCR kinases (GRKs), particularly GRK2 and GRK3, have been shown to be important for μ-OR recruitment of β-arrestin and internalization. However, the contribution of GRK2 and GRK3 to β-arrestin recruitment and receptor internalization, remain to be determined in their complete absence. Using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing we established HEK293 cells with knockout of GRK2, GRK3 or both to dissect their individual contributions in β-arrestin2 recruitment and μ-OR internalization upon stimulation with four different agonists. We showed that GRK2/3 removal reduced agonist-induced μ-OR internalization and β-arrestin2 recruitment substantially and we found GRK2 to be more important for these processes than GRK3. Furthermore, we observed a sustained and GRK2/3 independent component of β-arrestin2 recruitment to the plasma membrane upon μ-OR activation. Rescue expression experiments restored GRK2/3 functions. Inhibition of GRK2/3 using the small molecule inhibitor CMPD101 showed a high similarity between the genetic and pharmacological approaches, cross-validating the specificity of both. However, off-target effects were observed at high CMPD101 concentrations. These GRK2/3 KO cell lines should prove useful for a wide range of studies on GPCR function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • CRISPR-Cas Systems*
  • Endocytosis / physiology*
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 / genetics
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2 / physiology*
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 3 / genetics
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 3 / physiology*
  • Gene Editing
  • Gene Knockdown Techniques
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Phosphorylation
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu / metabolism*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • beta-Arrestin 2 / metabolism*

Substances

  • OPRM1 protein, human
  • Receptors, Opioid, mu
  • beta-Arrestin 2
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 3
  • GRK2 protein, human
  • GRK3 protein, human
  • G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 2

Grants and funding