title: The therapeutic agents that target ATP-sensitive potassium  channels.
abstract: ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels are a major drug target for the treatment of type-2 diabetes. K(ATP) channels are ubiquitously expressed and link the metabolic state to electrical excitability. In pancreatic β-cells, K(ATP) channels are crucial in the regulation of glucose-induced insulin secretion. Also, K(ATP) channels are involved in the protection against neuronal seizures and ischaemic stress in the heart, brain and in the regulation of vascular smooth muscle tone. Functional K(ATP) channels are hetero-octamers composed of two subunits, a pore forming Kir6, which is a member of the inwardly rectifying potassium channels family, and a regulatory sulphonylurea receptor (SUR). In response to nucleotides and pharmaceutical agonists and antagonists, SUR allosterically regulates channel gating. The allosteric communication pathways between these two heterologus proteins in K(ATP) channels are still poorly understood. This review will highlight the therapeutic agents that target K(ATP) channels and are used to treat diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, The Leeds Institute of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine, Univiersity of Leeds, U.K. h.rubaiy@leeds.ac.uk
authors.forename: Hussein N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Rubaiy
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000187:drug effects; D054086:KATP Channels / Q000378:metabolism*; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D064233:Sulfonylurea Receptors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D054086:KATP Channels; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D064233:Sulfonylurea Receptors