title: KATP channel: relation with cell metabolism and role in the cardiovascular system.
abstract: ATP-sensitive potassium channel (K(ATP)) is one kind of inwardly rectifying channel composed of two kinds of subunits: the pore forming subunits and the regulatory subunits. K(ATP) channels exist in the sarcolemmal, mitochondrial and nuclear membranes of various tissues. Cell metabolism regulates K(ATP) gene expression and metabolism products regulate the channel by direct interactions, while K(ATP) controls membrane potentials and regulate cell activities including energy metabolism, apoptosis and gene expression. K(ATP) channels from different cell organelles are linked by some signal molecules and they can respond to common stimulation in a coordinate way. In the cardiovascular system K(ATP) has important functions. The most prominent is that opening of this channel can protect cardiac myocytes against ischemic injuries. The sarcolemmal K(ATP) may provide a basic protection against ischemia by energy sparing, while both the sarcolemmal K(ATP) and mitochondrial K(ATP) channels are necessary for the ischemia preconditioning. K(ATP) channels also have important functions including homeostasis maintenance and vascular tone regulation under physiological conditions. Further elucidation of the role of K(ATP) in the cardiovascular system will help us to regulate cell metabolism or prevent damage caused by abnormal channel functions.
authors.affiliation: National Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Dong Dan San Tiao 5, Beijing 100005, PR China.
authors.forename: Ming-Lei
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Zhuo
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: De-Pei
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chih-Chuan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000378:metabolism*; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; D006801:Humans; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051676:G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels; C484274:KCNJ5 protein, human; D024661:Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying