The flow of current through the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channel (K ATP ) of the isoform Kir6.2/ SUR1 regulates the resting membrane potential in the pancreatic β-cell. In combination with the cellular glucose metabolism, it is an important minute-to-minute regulator of insulin secretion and whole-body glucose homeostasis. The same K ATP isoform is further reported to be present in glucagon-secreting α-cells, intestinal L-cells, and glucose-responsive neurons in the hypothalamus. All in all, this makes Kir6.2/SUR1 an interesting drug target. Using a commercially available fluorescent membrane potential probe kit and a conventional 96-well fluorescence plate reader, the authors have developed and established qualitative membrane potential assays used to screen for potassium channel closers (KCCs) and openers (KCOs) in insulin-and glucagon-secreting cell lines as well as in cells with recombinant expression of the human Kir6.2/ SUR1 channel complex. Both glucose-and KCC-induced depolarization could be demonstrated. The magnitudes of these responses and KCO-induced repolarization at high glucose displayed some variation between the different cell lines but a similar rank order of test compounds. Some cell types required the presence of a KCC, such as tolbutamide, to display significant effects of KCOs. The authors find that robust and reliable functional in vitro assays compatible with medium-throughput screening and high-throughput screening can be developed as a base for finding new, more potent, and isoform-selective
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