We showed previously that RGS8 directly hinds to the third intracellular loop (i3L) of the M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor using the sequence MPRR at the N-terminus of RGS8 and specifically inhibits signal transduction. Here, we identified spinophilin (SPL) as an RGS8-interacting protein. We found that the SPL-binding site of RGS8 is the MPRR sequence, and the M1 receptor and Silt. compete for binding to RGS8. However, we also observed that the expression of SPL significantly enhances the inhibitory function of RGS8, and that SPL can bind to the M1 receptor, demonstrating the indirect binding of RGS8 to the M1 receptor through SPL lot an efficient regulatory function. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.