Abstract:
ATP-sensitive K+ channels (KATP channels) are complexes of inwardly rectifying K+ channels (KIR6.1 or KIR 6.2) and sulphonylurea receptors (SUR). Channels containing KIR 6.2 are closed by ATP binding to KIR 6.2, and opened by MgADP binding to SUR. Channel activity is modulated by synthetic compounds such as the channel-blocking sulphonylureas used in therapy of diabetes and the KATP channel openers (e.g. P1075, diazoxide, minoxidil), which both act by binding to SUR.
Membrane phospholipids such as PIP2 and long-chain acyl-CoA-esters such as oleoyl-CoA bind to KIR 6.2 and reduce the ATP-sensitivity of the channels at physiological concentrations (10 -6 to 10 -5 mol/l). Thus, lipids are important and naturally occuring modulators of KATP channels. Moreover, they abolish the effects of the synthetic channel modulators (e.g. the channel closing sulphonylureas such as glibenclamide [GBC] and the KATP channel openers [P1075, diazoxide]).
Work in a former thesis showed that the binding of channel modulators to various SUR subtypes (SUR1, SUR2A, SUR2B, SUR2A(Y1206S)) is inhibited at high concentrations of lipid (>= 1-10 µM). Oleoyl-CoA is the most potent lipid and inhibits binding completely.
According to these findings we further examined the effect of oleoyl-CoA binding to SUR subtypes.
To this end radioligand binding studies were made with membranes of HEK cell lines stably expressing SUR subtypes at a temperature of 37°C. We examined the effect of oleoyl-CoA on binding of 3H-P1075 to SUR2A and SUR2A/KIR 6.2 (KATP channel in heart and skeletal muscle) and binding of 3H-GBC to SUR1 (channel in pancreas and neurons) and to the mutant, SUR2A(Y1206S).
As to SUR1/SUR2A, the interference of oleoyl-CoA with 3H-GBC/3H-P1075 binding showed a predominantly competitive mechanism of inhibition with an equilibrium dissociation constant for oleoyl-CoA (KO) of 3/14 µM. With SUR1, the inhibitory effect of the lipid was decreased by the presence of MgATP. In addition, coexpression of SUR2A with KIR 6.2 reduced the oleoyl-CoA-effect. All inhibition curves showed values of IC50 ranging from 6 to 44 µM. Inhibition was reversed by increasing the concentration of the respective radioligand in agreement with an essentially competitive mechanism.
At low concentrations of oleoyl-CoA (0.01-1 µM), there was a modest stimulation of 3H-GBC binding to the mutant SUR2A(Y1206S). However, this effect was too small to allow further characterisation.
Our studies demonstrate that oleoyl-CoA, at high concentrations, interacts with SUR in a specific manner and inhibits the binding of glibenclamide and P1075. The concentrations of lipid needed to bind to SUR are 10-100 x higher than those needed to interfere with KIR 6.2. Thus, binding of oleoyl-coA to SUR subtypes is of little physiological importance. It is, however, of pharmacological importance and must be taken into account if high concentrations of lipid compounds (e.g. oleoyl-coA >= 1-10 µM) are used to interfere with the actions of sulphonylureas and openers on KATP channel activity.