THE ABCS OF ATP-SENSITIVE POTASSIUM CHANNELS - MORE PIECES OF THE PUZZLE

ATP-sensitive potassium channels, K-ATP channels, are critical for the normal regulation of insulin secretion. The cloning of cDNAs encoding the subunits of these channels shows that they are a novel combinatio n of an ATP-binding protein and a small inward rectifier. Loss of panc reatic beta-cell K-ATP channels has been shown to cause familial hyper insulinism.