Characterization of the interaction between the dopamine D4 receptor, KLHL12 and β-arrestins

Dopamine receptors are G protein-coupled receptors involved in regulation of cognition, learning, movement and endocrine signaling. The action of G protein-coupled receptors is highly regulated by multifunctional proteins, such as β-arrestins which can control receptor desensitization, ubiquitination and signaling. Previously, we have reported that β-arrestin 2 interacts with KLHL12, a BTB-Kelch protein which functions as an adaptor in a Cullin3-based E3 ligase complex and promotes ubiquitination of the dopamine D4 receptor. Here, we have investigated the molecular basis of the interaction between KLHL12 and β-arrestins and questioned its functional relevance. Our data demonstrate that β-arrestin 1 and β-arrestin 2 bind constitutively to the most common dopamine D4 receptor polymorphic variants and to KLHL12 and that all three proteins can interact within a single macromolecular complex. Surprisingly, stimulation of the receptor has no influence on the association between these proteins or their cellular distribution. We found that Cullin3 also interacts with both β-arrestins but has no influence on their ubiquitination. Knockout of one of the two β-arrestins hampers neither interaction between the dopamine D4 receptor and KLHL12, nor ubiquitination of the receptor. Finally, our results indicate that p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation, the signaling pathway which is often regulated by β-arrestins is not influenced by KLHL12, but seems to be exclusively mediated by Gαi protein upon dopamine D4 receptor stimulation. •D4R, KLHL12 and β-arrestin 2 exist in a single protein complex•β-arrestins are not required for the KLHL12-mediated D4R ubiquitination•No influence of KLHL12 on D4R internalization or MAPK phosphorylation was observed•Cullin3 also interacts with β-arrestins but has no influence on their ubiquitination