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The ATP-sensitive K-channel (K-ATP channel) plays a key role in insulin secretion from pancreatic beta-cells. It is closed by glucose metabolism, which stimulates insulin secretion, and opened by the drug diazoxide, which inhibits insulin release. Metabolic regulation is mediated by changes in ATP and Mg-ADP, which inhibit and potentiate channel activity, respectively. The beta-cell K-ATP channel consists of a pore-forming subunit, Kir6.2, and a regulatory subunit, SUR1. We have mutated (independently or together) two lysine residues in the Walker A (W(A)) motifs of the first (K719A) and second (K1384M) nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs) of SUR1. These mutations are expected to inhibit nucleotide hydrolysis. Our results indicate that the W(A) lysine of NBD1 (but not NBD2) is essential for activation of K-ATP currents by diazoxide. The potentiatory effects of Mg-ADP required the presence of the W(A) lysines in both NBDs. Mutant currents were slightly more sensitive to ATP than wild-type currents. Metabolic inhibition led to activation of wild-type and K1384M currents, but not K719A or K719A/K1384M currents, suggesting that there may be a factor in addition to ATP and ADP which regulates K-ATP channel activity.

Original publication

DOI

10.1093/emboj/16.6.1145

Type

Journal article

Journal

EMBO J

Publication Date

17/03/1997

Volume

16

Pages

1145 - 1152

Keywords

Adenosine Diphosphate, Adenosine Monophosphate, Adenosine Triphosphate, Animals, Antimetabolites, Azides, Cloning, Molecular, Diazoxide, Female, In Vitro Techniques, Insulin, Islets of Langerhans, Kinetics, Magnesium, Mice, Mutagenesis, Site-Directed, Oocytes, Potassium Channels, Protein Conformation, Rats, Sodium Azide, Xenopus