ATP-sensitive potassium channels in neurons: Roles in and beyond metabolic control

ATP-sensitive potassium (K_ATP) channels are part of the inwardly rectifying potassium (K_ir) channel family and are distinguished by their inhibition by intracellular ATP. Their role in pancreatic β-cells is well understood: increases in ATP production after glucose intake lead to K_ATP channel closure, causing membrane depolarization and insulin secretion. In the central nervous system, K_ATP channels are also abundant and are involved in glucose sensing and neuroprotection. However, their functions beyond these traditional roles are less certain. In this review, we examine the various actions of neuronal K_ATP channels in different brain regions, including those involved in metabolic regulation and others not directly linked to energy balance, highlighting emerging physiological functions of these channels beyond metabolic control.