Receptor phosphorylation is a key step in the process of rapid desensitization. beta-Adrenergic receptor kinase is a specific receptor kinase that is known to phosphorylate and induce desensitization of several G-coupled synaptic receptors only when they are occupied by their agonists. We recently cloned human beta ARK cDNA and reported high levels of beta ARK expression in human peripheral blood leukocytes, also providing the first evidence for its possible functional role in these cells. Complete homologous receptor desensitization by beta ARK requires an additional cytosolic factor, called beta-arrestin. In the present study, we have cloned a 212 bp fragment of the human beta-arrestin cDNA to perform a comparative analysis of beta ARK and beta-arrestin mRNA expression in various human cell types. We found that also beta-arrestin mRNA is abundant in non-innervated tissues and cells. The fact that the entire machinery for G-coupled receptor desensitization is highly expressed in these cells further supports the idea that beta ARK may regulate nonsynaptic as well as synaptic receptors.