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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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GRK7
G protein-coupled receptor kinase 7
Chromosome 3 · 3q23
NCBI Gene: 131890Ensembl: ENSG00000114124.3HGNC: HGNC:17031UniProt: Q8WTQ7
19PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Kinase
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
rhodopsin kinase activityprotein bindingregulation of signal transductioncytoplasmcorneal ulceradolescent idiopathic scoliosishepatitis C virus infectioncirrhosis of liver
✦AI Summary

GRK7 (G protein-coupled receptor kinase 7) is a retina-specific kinase that plays a crucial role in cone photoreceptor function and visual signal termination. GRK7 is expressed exclusively in cone outer segments in humans and other mammals, where it phosphorylates light-activated cone opsins to initiate signal shutoff 1 2. The kinase exhibits significantly higher enzymatic activity than the rod-specific GRK1, with 32-fold higher Vmax values, contributing to the rapid recovery kinetics characteristic of cone photoresponses 3. GRK7 undergoes cAMP-dependent phosphorylation by protein kinase A (PKA) at serine residues Ser23 and Ser36, which attenuates its enzymatic activity 4. This phosphorylation occurs in darkness when cAMP levels are elevated and is reversed upon light exposure, representing a novel regulatory mechanism for cone adaptation 5 6. The proper localization of GRK7 to cone outer segments is essential for protecting photoreceptors from phototoxicity, as demonstrated in retinal dystrophy models where GRK7 mislocalization correlates with increased light vulnerability 7. Clinically, GRK7 deficiency or mislocalization is associated with abnormal cone deactivation kinetics and may contribute to retinal degeneration, highlighting its therapeutic relevance in inherited retinal diseases 2 7.

Sources cited
1
GRK7 is expressed exclusively in retina and specifically in human cone outer segments, can phosphorylate rhodopsin in light-dependent manner
PMID: 11754336
2
GRK7 is present in normal cone outer segments and its absence correlates with abnormal cone deactivation kinetics in ESCS patients
PMID: 12601058
3
GRK7 exhibits 32-fold higher Vmax than GRK1 and is localized to cone outer segments in zebrafish
PMID: 16787417
4
GRK7 is phosphorylated by PKA at Ser23 and Ser36, which reduces its enzymatic activity
PMID: 15946941
5
GRK7 phosphorylation occurs in darkness and is reversed by light exposure across multiple species
PMID: 18803695
6
GRK7 undergoes cAMP-dependent phosphorylation and mediates cone photoresponse recovery to elevated cAMP
PMID: 36273582
7
GRK7 mislocalization correlates with photoreceptor vulnerability to light stimuli and phototoxicity in retinal dystrophy models
PMID: 38646933
Disease Associationsⓘ20
corneal ulcerOpen Targets
0.29Weak
adolescent idiopathic scoliosisOpen Targets
0.14Weak
cirrhosis of liverOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
hepatitis C virus infectionOpen Targets
0.06Suggestive
aortic valve stenosisOpen Targets
0.05Suggestive
respiratory distress syndrome in premature infantsOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
alopecia areataOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
Benign Thyroid Gland NeoplasmOpen Targets
0.02Suggestive
respiratory system diseaseOpen Targets
0.01Suggestive
Oguchi diseaseOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
Invasive Breast CarcinomaOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
neoplasmOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
autismOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
carcinoma of pharynxOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
age-related macular degenerationOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
BlindnessOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
cancerOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
enhanced S-cone syndromeOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
retinal degenerationOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
retinitisOpen Targets
0.00Suggestive
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
RCVRNProtein interaction100%RHOProtein interaction100%SAGProtein interaction100%MPP4Protein interaction100%ARRB1Protein interaction94%ARRB2Protein interaction93%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Ovary
100%
Lung
63%
Brain
44%
Liver
25%
Heart
0%
Bone Marrow
0%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
GRK7RCVRNRHOSAGMPP4ARRB1ARRB2
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q8WTQ7
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.84LoF Tolerant
pLIⓘ
0.00Tolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.59 [0.42–0.84]
RankingsWhere GRK7 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #14,438of 20,598
    Most Researched19
  • #7,178of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.84
Genes detectedGRK7
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Phototoxicity avoidance is a potential therapeutic approach for retinal dystrophy caused by EYS dysfunction.
PMID: 38646933
JCI Insight · 2024
1.00
2
M opsin phosphorylation in intact mammalian retinas.
PMID: 15773913
J Neurochem · 2005
0.90
3
GRK1 and GRK7: unique cellular distribution and widely different activities of opsin phosphorylation in the zebrafish rods and cones.
PMID: 16787417
J Neurochem · 2006
0.80
4
Grk7 but not Grk1 undergoes cAMP-dependent phosphorylation in zebrafish cone photoreceptors and mediates cone photoresponse recovery to elevated cAMP.
PMID: 36273582
J Biol Chem · 2022
0.70
5
Phosphorylation of GRK1 and GRK7 by cAMP-dependent protein kinase attenuates their enzymatic activities.
PMID: 15946941
J Biol Chem · 2005
0.60