Role of the Palmitoyl Group and of the Amphipathic α Helix in the Membrane Binding of the C-Terminus of G-Protein Receptor Kinase 4α/β

Membrane binding of monotopic proteins can involve various post-translational modifications or a combination of some membrane-binding elements. For example, amphipathic α helices and palmitoylation could drive the membrane attachment of proteins. G-protein-coupled receptor kinases (GRKs) regulate the activity of G-protein-coupled receptors. Several members of the family of GRKs are acylated. Moreover, the C-terminus of GRK6 contains an amphipathic α helix and a palmitoyl group, which could also be the case for GRK4 isoforms. In our experiments, GRK4α/β-derived peptides of differing C-terminal lengths (Cter-GRK4α/β variants) were thus studied to discriminate the individual role of the palmitoyl group and amphipathic α helix of Cter-GRK4α/β in its membrane binding. The membrane binding of the Cter-GRK4α/β variants was studied by comparing their maximum insertion pressure (MIP) to lipid monolayers as well as their intrinsic fluorescence properties using large unilamellar vesicles. The MIP data show a higher level of binding of the palmitoylated longest GRK4α/β variant. Moreover, MIP measurements in the absence and presence of 15 mol % of the negatively charged phosphoserine demonstrated that the amphipathic α helix of Cter-GRK4α/β plays a major role in its membrane binding. Accordingly, partition studies of the Cter-GRK4α/β variants to membranes by fluorescence spectroscopy demonstrate the involvement of the palmitoyl group and the amphipathic α helix of the C-terminus of GRK4α/β in its membrane binding. Altogether, the data show that both the palmitoyl group and the amphipathic helix highly favor membrane binding of the C-terminus of GRK4α/β, which should facilitate the proper anchoring of GRK4α/β and phosphorylation of GPCRs.