Control of the cardiac muscarinic K+ channel by beta-arrestin 2

Control of the cardiac muscarinic K(+) current (i(K,ACh)) by beta-arrestin 2 has been studied. In Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with m2 muscarinic receptor, muscarinic K(+) channel, receptor kinase (GRK2), and beta-arrestin 2, desensitization of i(K,ACh) during a 3-min application of 10 micrometer ACh was significantly increased as compared with that in cells transfected with receptor, channel, and GRK2 only (fade in current increased from 45 to 78%). The effect of beta-arrestin 2 was lost if cells were not co-transfected with GRK2. Resensitization (recovery from desensitization) of i(K,ACh) in cells transfected with beta-arrestin 2 was significantly slowed (time constant increased from 34 to 232 s). Activation and deactivation of i(K,ACh) on application and wash-off of ACh in cells transfected with beta-arrestin 2 were significantly slowed from 0.9 to 3.1 s (time to half peak i(K,ACh)) and from 6.2 to 13.8 s (time to half-deactivation), respectively. In cells transfected with a constitutively active beta-arrestin 2 mutant, desensitization occurred in the absence of agonist (peak current significantly decreased from 0.4 +/- 0.05 to 0.1 +/- 0.01 nA). We conclude that beta-arrestin 2 has the potential to play a major role in desensitization and other aspects of the functioning of the muscarinic K(+) channel.