GRK2 negatively regulates glycogen synthesis in mouse liver FL83B cells

G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) kinases (GRKs) are serine/threonine kinases that desensitize agonist-occupied classical GPCRs. Although the insulin receptor (IR) is a tyrosine kinase receptor, the IR also couples to G-proteins and utilizes G-protein signaling components. The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that GRK2 negatively regulates IR signaling. FL83B cells, derived from mouse liver, were treated with insulin and membrane translocation of GRK2 was determined using immunofluoresecence and Western blotting. Insulin caused an increase in the translocation of GRK-2 from cytosol to the plasma membrane. To determine the role of GRK2 in IR signaling, GRK2 was selectively down-regulated ( approximately by 90%) in FL83B cells using a small interfering RNA technique. Basal as well as insulin-induced glycogen synthesis (measured by d-[U-(14)C]glucose incorporation) was increased in GRK2-deficient cells compared with control cells. Similarly, GRK2 deficiency increased the basal and insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Ser(21) in glycogen synthase kinase-3alpha. Insulin-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the IR was similar in control and GRK2-deficient cells. Basal and insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Tyr(612) in insulin receptor subunit 1 was significantly increased while phosphorylation of Ser(307) was decreased in GRK2-deficient FL83B cells compared with control cells. Chronic insulin treatment (24 h) in control cells caused an increase in GRK2 (56%) and a decrease in IR (50%) expression associated with the absence of an increase in glycogen synthesis, suggesting impairment of IR function. However, chronic insulin treatment (24 h) did not decrease IR expression or impair IR effects on glycogen synthesis in GRK2-deficient cells. We conclude that (i) GRK2 negatively regulates basal and insulin-stimulated glycogen synthesis via a post-IR signaling mechanism, and (ii) GRK2 may contribute to reduced IR expression and function during chronic insulin exposure.