Effects of internal chloride on ATP-sensitive K-channels in mouse pancreatic beta-cells.

The effect of internal Cl- on the K-ATP channel of pancreatic beta-cells was examined. Reducing Cl- from 140mM to 14mM potentiated channel activity (NPO) approximately 4.5 fold in 60% of patches but was without effect in 40% of patches. The Ki for channel inhibition by ATP was not changed. The inhibitory effect of Cl- interacted with the stimulatory action of MgGDP. In 140mM Cl-, 1mM MgGDP increased NPO in Cl(-)-sensitive patches only: when NPO was potentiated by 14mM Cl-, no further increase was produced by MgGDP. These observations suggest that MgGDP and low Cl- solution may increase channel activity via a similar mechanism.