Identification of neuronal calcium sensor (NCS-1) possibly involved in the regulation of receptor phosphorylation.
Persistent stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors by agonists leads rapidly to reduced responses, a phenomenon described as desensitization. It involves primarily the phosphorylation of receptor sites by specific kinases of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase (GRK) family. The beta-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 (GRK2) desensitizes agonist-activated beta2-adrenergic receptors, whereas rhodopsin kinase (GRK1) phosphorylates and inactivates photon-activated rhodopsin. Little is known about the role of calcium in desensitization. Here we report the characterization of a novel neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) named NCS-1 possibly involved in the regulation of receptor phosphorylation. NCS-1 is a new member of the EF-hand superfamily, which includes calmodulin, troponin C, parvalbumin, and recoverins. By Northern analysis and in situ hybridization, we discovered that NCS-1 is specifically expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Chick NCS-1 has 72% of amino acid identity with Drosophila frequenin, a protein found in the nervous system and at the motor nerve terminals of neuromuscular junctions. By analogy with the reported function for two other members of the NCS family, we discuss whether G protein-coupled receptors or GRKs are the targets of neuronal calcium sensors.
START Unit, Department of Biochemistry, University of Geneva, Switzerland.
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D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002645:Chickens; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D010766:Phosphorylation; D010802:Phylogeny; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D017386:Sequence Homology, Amino Acid; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D017931:DNA Primers; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D002118:Calcium