title: ATP-sensitive K+ channels of vascular smooth muscle cells.
abstract: ATP-sensitive potassium channels (K(ATP)) of vascular smooth muscle cells represent potential therapeutic targets for control of abnormal vascular contractility. The biophysical properties, regulation and pharmacology of these channels have received intense scrutiny during the past twenty years, however, the molecular basis of vascular K(ATP) channels remains ill-defined. This review summarizes the recent advancements made in our understanding of the molecular composition of vascular K(ATP) channels with a focus on the evidence that hetero-octameric complexes of Kir6.1 and SUR2B subunits constitute the vascular K(ATP) subtype responsible for control of arterial diameter by vasoactive agonists.
authors.affiliation: The Smooth Muscle Research Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. wcole@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Clément-Chomienne
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases / Q000378:metabolism*; D001711:Biotransformation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D000251:Adenosine Triphosphatases