Invitrogen™ GRK1 Monoclonal Antibody (G8)

Description

MA1-720 detects G-protein-associated rhodopsin kinase 1a (GRK1a) from human, mouse, rat, bovine and chicken tissues. MA1-720 has been successfully used in Western blot, immunofluorescence and immunoprecipitation procedures. By Western blot, this antibody detects an ~60 kDa protein representing GRK1a from bovine rod outer segments. Immunofluorescence staining of GRK1a in bovine retina with MA1-720 results in intense staining primarily in cone outer segments, but also in rod outer segments. Weak staining is observed in somata and synaptic terminals of cones and inner segments of rods. The MA1-720 immunogen is full length human GRK1. This antibody recognizes an epitope in the C-terminal region of GRK1a.

GRK1 is a member of the guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)-coupled receptor kinase subfamily of the Ser/Thr protein kinases. GRK1 mediates rapid desensitization of rod photoreceptors to light by catalyzing phosphorylation of the visual pigment rhodopsin which leads to its deactivation. Defects in GRK1 are known to cause Oguchi disease 2 (also known as stationary night blindness Oguchi type-2). GRK1 can be phosphorylated by PKA and this reduces the ability of GRK1 to phosphorylate rhodopsin in vitro. It is speculated that phosphorylation of GRK1 by PKA in vivo occurs in the dark when cAMP levels in photoreceptor cells are elevated.