E. Kobrinsky et al., Receptor-mediated hydrolysis of plasma membrane messenger PIP2 leads to K+-current desensitization, NAT CELL BI, 2(8), 2000, pp. 507-514
Phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate (PIP2) directly regulates functions as di
verse as the organization of the cytoskeleton, vesicular transport and ion
channel activity. It is not known, however, whether dynamic changes in PIP2
levels have a regulatory role of physiological importance in such function
s. Here, we show in both native cardiac cells and heterologous expression s
ystems that receptor-regulated PIP2 hydrolysis results in desensitization o
f a GTP-binding protein-stimulated potassium current. Two receptor-regulate
d pathways in the plasma membrane cross-talk at the level of these channels
to modulate potassium currents. One pathway signals through the beta gamma
subunits of G proteins, which bind directly to the channel. G beta gamma s
ubunits stabilize interactions with PIP2 and lead to persistent channel act
ivation. The second pathway activates phospholipase C (PLC) which hydrolyse
s PIP2 and limits G beta gamma-stimulated activity. Our results provide evi
dence that PIP2 itself is a receptor-regulated second messenger, downregula
tion of which accounts for a new form of desensitization.