Affinity isolation of imidazoline binding proteins from rat brain using 5‐amino‐efaroxan as a ligand

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Abstract
We have employed an amino derivative of the imidazoline ligand, efaroxan, to isolate imidazoline binding proteins from solubilised extracts of rat brain, by affinity chromatography. A number of proteins were specifically retained on the affinity column and one of these was immunoreactive with an antiserum raised against the ion conducting pore component of the ATP‐sensitive potassium channel. Patch clamp experiments confirmed that, like its parent compound, amino‐efaroxan blocks ATP‐sensitive potassium channels in human pancreatic β‐cells and can stimulate the insulin secretion from these cells. The results reveal that a member of the ion conducting pore component family is strongly associated with imidazoline binding proteins in brain and in the endocrine pancreas.