The ATP-regulated K+ channel in mitochondria: Five years after its discovery

Abstract

Mitochondria contain a potassium specific channel (mitoKATP channel) sensitive to ATP and antidiabetic sulfonylureas. The mitochondrial KATP channel plays an important role in the mitochondrial volume control and in regulation of the components of protonmotive force. This minireview describes the properties and current hypotheses concerning the function of mitoKATP channel.