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Promiscuous coupling between the sulphonylurea receptor and inwardly rectifying potassium channels

Nature volume 379, pages 545–548 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

SULPHONYLUREAS are a class of drugs widely used to treat non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. These drugs act by binding to a sulphonylurea receptor (SUR) in the pancreatic β-cell membrane which inhibits an ATP-sensitive potassium (K-ATP) channel and thereby stimulates insulin secretion. There has been much debate as to whether SUR and the K-ATP channel are the same or separate proteins, whether SUR confers ATP-sensithity on an ATP-insensitive pore-forming subunit, and whether sulphonylureas can also modulate other types of K-channel. We show here that SUR itself does not possess intrinsic channel activity but that it endows sulphonylurea sensitivity on several types of inwardly-rectifying It-channels. It does not necessarily confer ATP-sensitivity on these channels.

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Author notes

  1. Frances M. Ashcroft: To Whom correspondence should be addressed

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Laboratory of Physiology, Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3PT, UK

    Carlna Ämmälä, Andrew Moorhouse, Fiona Gribble, Peter Proks, Paul A. Smith, Hiroshl Sakura, Barbara Coles & Frances M. Ashcroft

  2. Nuffield Department of Clinical Biochemistry, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK

    Rebecca Ashfleld & Stephen J. H. Ashcroft

Authors
  1. Carlna Ämmälä
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  2. Andrew Moorhouse
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  4. Rebecca Ashfleld
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  5. Peter Proks
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  6. Paul A. Smith
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  7. Hiroshl Sakura
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  8. Barbara Coles
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  9. Stephen J. H. Ashcroft
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  10. Frances M. Ashcroft
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Ämmälä, C., Moorhouse, A., Gribble, F. et al. Promiscuous coupling between the sulphonylurea receptor and inwardly rectifying potassium channels. Nature 379, 545–548 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/379545a0

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