beta-Arrestin is an adaptor protein that has been shown to couple G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to clathrin-coated pits and target them for subsequent internalization. More recently, beta-arrestin 2 has also been shown to be involved in the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades by G protein-coupled receptors independently of G protein activation. Direct interactions between proteins can be monitored using enzyme complementation between two inactive deletion mutants of beta-galactosidase (beta-gal; Deltaalpha and Deltaomega). In the present study, we have used fusion proteins of the human beta(2)-adrenoceptor (C-terminal beta-gal Deltaalpha) and beta-arrestin 2 (beta-gal Deltaomega) to study directly the pharmacology of this interaction in C2C12 cells expressing the beta(2)-adrenoceptor-beta-gal Deltaalpha fusion protein at low physiological levels (38.2 +/- 2.7 fmol . mg protein(-1)). Isoprenaline, noradrenaline, and adrenaline (-log EC(50) = 5.9, 5.5, and 5.7, respectively) stimulated an association between the beta(2)-adrenoceptor and beta-arrestin 2 at much higher concentrations than required for activation of cAMP accumulation (-log EC(50) = 7.6, 6.3, and 7.7, respectively). This was sensitive to inhibition by the beta(2)-adrenoceptor antagonists propranolol, timolol, and ICI 118551. Both salbutamol and terbutaline behaved as partial agonists of beta-gal complementation. Furthermore, the long-acting beta(2)-agonist salmeterol (-log K(D) for inhibition of [(3)H]CGP12177 binding = 8.7) behaved as an antagonist of isoprenaline-stimulated beta(2)-adrenoceptor-arrestin 2 interactions (-log K(D) = 8.0), whereas acting as a full agonist of cAMP accumulation in the same cells (-log EC(50) = 9.2). These data suggest that salmeterol can discriminate between receptor-G(S) protein and receptor-arrestin 2 complexes (in terms of efficacy and affinity) in a way that is favorable for its long duration of action.