We demonstrate a functional role for the 3ʹ-untranslated region (3ʹ-UTR) of the angiotensin II (Ang II) receptor subtype AT1A mRNA in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) cells by stably transfecting the coding region of the receptor gene with or without the 845 bp 3ʹ-UTR. Two cell lines expressing similar levels of cell-surface receptors (with 3ʹ-UTR, Bmax = 571 fmol/mg protein; without 3ʹ-UTR, Bmax = 663 fmol/mg protein) were used in the present study. Both cell lines expressed high-affinity receptors (with 3ʹ-UTR, Kd = 0.83 nM; without 3ʹ-UTR, Kd = 0.82 nM), and binding studies with 125I-labelled Ang II in the presence of GTP[S] demonstrated that both coupled to heterotrimeric G-proteins. Despite these similarities, significant differences were observed for receptor-mediated cell signalling pathways. In cells without the 3ʹ-UTR, Ang II stimulated an increase in cAMP accumulation (11-fold above control) and in cells with the 3ʹ-UTR no stimulation was observed, which was consistent with previous observations in most endogenous Ang II receptor (AT1)-expressing cells. Activation of cAMP by Ang II in cells without the 3ʹ-UTR correlated with an inhibition of DNA synthesis, determined by [3H]thymidine incorporation. Ang II-mediated responses were blocked by EXP3174, a selective non-peptide receptor antagonist. We also observed differences in the transient profiles of intracellular calcium between cells with and without the 3ʹ-UTR in response to Ang II. In cells with the 3ʹ-UTR, a sustained level of intracellular calcium was observed after Ang II stimulation, whereas cells without the 3ʹ-UTR displayed a full return to basal level within 50 s of Ang II treatment. Even though the expressed exogenous gene is under the control of a constitutively expressing promoter (cytomegalovirus promoter), Northern-blot analysis revealed a considerably greater accumulation of AT1A mRNA in cells without the 3ʹ-UTR compared with cells with the 3ʹ-UTR. Analysis of the decay rate of the AT1A mRNA in cells with and without the 3ʹ-UTR revealed that the normally unstable AT1A receptor mRNA became highly stable by removing its 3ʹ-UTR, identifying a role for the 3ʹ-UTR in mRNA destabilization. Interestingly, both cells express similar levels of receptors at the cell surface, suggesting that the 3ʹ-UTR is also involved in the efficient translation and/or translocation of the receptor protein to the plasma membrane. We hypothesized that these 3ʹ-UTR-mediated functions of the receptor are regulated by RNA-binding proteins. To identify possible RNA-binding proteins for the AT1A 3ʹ-UTR, cellular extracts were prepared from parental CHO-K1 cells and 3ʹ-UTR-binding assays, electrophoretic mobility-shift assays and UV crosslinking studies were performed. A major cellular protein of 55 kDa was identified, which specifically interacted with the 3ʹ-UTR. Our data suggest that the 3ʹ-UTR of the AT1A can control specific receptor functions, perhaps via selective recognition of the 3ʹ-UTR by RNA-binding proteins.