GRK1
GRK1 (G protein-coupled receptor kinase 1, also known as rhodopsin kinase, RHOK, RK or GPRK1) is a retina-specific serine/threonine kinase. It phosphorylates light-activated rhodopsin in rod photoreceptors, terminating the phototransduction signal. Browse Assay Genie's current range of GRK1 research reagents below, or read on for the biology behind the target.
GRK1 is a retina-specific kinase that regulates phototransduction. Its key role is to terminate the light-activated rhodopsin (RHO) signal in rod photoreceptors. After light activation, GRK1 phosphorylates RHO, which promotes binding of S-arrestin (SAG). S-arrestin then blocks transducin-mediated opsin signalling. This rapid desensitisation is essential for scotopic vision and allows rapid adaptation to changes in illumination. GRK1 may also help maintain the outer nuclear layer of the retina.
The GRK1 gene encodes a member of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase subfamily of the Ser/Thr protein kinase family. In UniProt the protein belongs to the protein kinase superfamily, the AGC Ser/Thr protein kinase family and the GPRK subfamily. It is a membrane protein found in the photoreceptor outer segment, a cilium-derived cell projection. Researchers studying this enzyme may work with the GRK1 protein, the GRK1 gene or GRK1 antibody and GRK1 ELISA kit approaches to follow expression. Mouse and rat both carry a Grk1 ortholog.
The name rhodopsin kinase reflects the best-characterised substrate of the enzyme, and the aliases RHOK, RK and GPRK1 appear in the literature. Defects in GRK1 are known to cause Oguchi disease 2, also called stationary night blindness Oguchi type-2. This makes GRK1 a useful reference point for work on rhodopsin deactivation and on the other members of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase family.
GRK1 phosphorylates light-activated rhodopsin and so ends the rod photoreceptor response, which makes it central to studies of how the visual signal is switched off.
Rapid desensitisation by GRK1 is essential for scotopic vision and permits rapid adaptation to changes in illumination.
Defects in GRK1 cause Oguchi disease 2, a form of stationary night blindness, so the gene is relevant to inherited retinal disorder research.
GRK1 may play a role in maintaining the outer nuclear layer in the retina, an area of interest in photoreceptor biology.
GRK1 is a retina-specific kinase that terminates the light-activated rhodopsin signal in rod photoreceptors. It phosphorylates rhodopsin, which promotes binding of S-arrestin and blocks transducin-mediated opsin signalling. This desensitisation supports scotopic vision and rapid adaptation to changes in illumination.
GRK1 is the HGNC symbol for G protein-coupled receptor kinase 1. The protein is also called rhodopsin kinase, and the aliases GPRK1, RK and RHOK are used. UniProt lists the protein name as Rhodopsin kinase GRK1, with the enzyme number EC 2.7.11.14.
Defects in GRK1 are known to cause Oguchi disease 2, also called stationary night blindness Oguchi type-2. Orthologs named Grk1 exist in mouse and rat. Check the datasheet of any product for its validated reactivity.
Other members of the G protein-coupled receptor kinase family with products at Assay Genie.
Gene and protein annotations from HGNC, NCBI Gene and UniProt Q15835; product specifications from Assay Genie datasheets.