Protein phosphorylation is required for diazoxide to open ATP-sensitive potassium channels in insulin (RINm5F) secreting cells.

The patch-clamp open-cell recording configuration has been used to investigate the effects of non-hydrolyzable analogues of ATP on the diazoxide-activation of KATP channels in the insulin-secreting cell line RINm5F. K+ channels inhibited by 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mM ATP were consistently activated by 200 microM diazoxide. During sustained activation of channels, exchange of ATP for either AMP-PNP, AMP-PCP or ATP gamma S abolished the effects of diazoxide. If diazoxide was added to the membrane in the continued presence of AMP-PNP, AMP-PCP or ATP gamma S either no effects were observed or alternatively a small transient activation of channels occurred. This study suggests that protein phosphorylation is necessary for diazoxide to activate ATP-sensitive potassium channels in insulin-secreting cells.