Establishment and application of in vitro membrane potential assays in cell lines with endogenous or recombinant expression of ATP-sensitive potassium channels (Kir6.2/SUR1) using a fluorescent probe kit

The flow of current through the adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive potassium channel (K-ATP) of the isoform Kir6.2/SUR I regulates the resting membrane potential in the pancreatic P-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 alpha-cells, intestinal L-cells, and glucose-responsive neurons in the hypothalamus. All in all, this makes Kir6.2/SUR I 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/SUR I 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 KCCs and KCOs.