Lesson plan
GRK4
G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) is an enzyme that is encoded by the GRK4 gene in humans. This gene encodes a member of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase subfamily of the Ser/Thr protein kinase family, and is most similar to GRK5 and GRK6. G protein-coupled receptor kinases phosphorylate activated G protein-coupled receptors, which promotes the binding of an arrestin protein to the receptor. Arrestin binding to a phosphorylated, active receptor prevents receptor stimulation of heterotrimeric G protein transducer proteins, blocking their cellular signaling and resulting in receptor desensitization. Moreover Arrestin binding to a phosphorylated, active receptor also enables receptor signaling through arrestin partner proteins. Consequently the GRK/arrestin system serves as a signaling switch for G protein-coupled receptors. GRK4 is most highly expressed in the testes, with lower amounts found in the brain, kidney and other tissues. It exists in four alternatively-spliced variants. Polymorphisms in the GRK4 gene have been linked to both genetic and acquired hypertension, partly acting through kidney dopamine receptors.
Article summary
G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) is an enzyme that is encoded by the GRK4 gene in humans. This gene encodes a member of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase subfamily of the Ser/Thr protein kinase family, and is most similar to GRK5 and GRK6. G protein-coupled receptor kinases phosphorylate activated G protein-coupled receptors, which promotes the binding of an arrestin protein to the receptor. Arrestin binding to a phosphorylated, active receptor prevents receptor stimulation of heterotrimeric G protein transducer proteins, blocking their cellular signaling and resulting in receptor desensitization. Moreover Arrestin binding to a phosphorylated, active receptor also enables receptor signaling through arrestin partner proteins. Consequently the GRK/arrestin system serves as a signaling switch for G protein-coupled receptors. GRK4 is most highly expressed in the testes, with lower amounts found in the brain, kidney and other tissues. It exists in four alternatively-spliced variants. Polymorphisms in the GRK4 gene have been linked to both genetic and acquired hypertension, partly acting through kidney dopamine receptors.
Key claims
No claims recorded.
Discussion questions
- Summarise the article in your own words. Which single claim would you verify first, and why?
- Which claim in this article is most likely to be revised as the sources update? How would you check its current status?
- If two sources disagreed about one of these facts, what would you need in order to trust one over the other?
Bibliography
No sources recorded.
Key claims and bibliography are generated from the same tracked claims and sources as the article page.