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The apelin receptor is a G protein-coupled receptor to which two ligand fragments, apelin-(65-77) and apelin-(42-77), can bind. To address the physiological significance of the existence of dual ligands for a single receptor, we first compared the ability of the apelin fragments to regulate intracellular effectors, to promote G protein coupling, and to desensitize the response in Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing the murine apelin receptor. We found that both apelin fragments inhibited adenylyl cyclase and increased the phosphorylation of ERK or Akt. Using stably transfected cells expressing a pertussis toxin-insensitive alpha(i) subunit, we demonstrated that each apelin fragment promoted coupling of the apelin receptor to either Galpha(i1) or Galpha(i2) but not to Galpha(i3). Although preincubation with each apelin fragment induced a desensitization at the level of the three effectors, preincubation with apelin-(42-77) also increased basal effector activity. In addition, a C-terminal deletion of the apelin receptor decreased the desensitization induced by apelin-(65-77) but did not alter the desensitization pattern induced by apelin-(42-77). Finally, in umbilical endothelial cells, which we have recently shown to express the apelin receptor, the Galpha(i1) and Galpha(i2) subunits are also expressed, ERK and Akt phosphorylation is desensitized after preincubation with apelin-(65-77), and basal levels of Akt phosphorylation are increased after preincubation with apelin-(42-77). In summary, apelin fragments regulate the same effectors, via the preferential coupling of the apelin receptor to G(i1) or G(i2), but they promote a differential desensitization pattern that may be central to their respective physiological roles.