Les canaux potassiques sensibles à l'ATP (K-ATP) jouent un rôle fondamental au sein de la cellule, puisqu'ils ajustent le potentiel de membrane en fonction de l'état métabolique. Ils combinent deux types de protéines: le récepteur des Sulfonylurée (SUR), protéine régulatrice faisant partie des transporteurs ABC, et le canal potassique rectifiant entrant Kir6. Elles s'associent en formant un hétérooctamère (4 SUR/4 Kir6) d'une taille de ~ 1MDa. A l'heure actuelle, l'unique structure disponible de ce complexe est une structure basse-résolution de 18 Å qui ne permet pas de visualiser correctement l'arrangement des différentes sous-unités. Le but principal de ce projet de thèse était d'obtenir des informations à la fois structurales et fonctionnelles sur le couplage entre Kir6.2 et SUR.Il existe 2 isoformes du Kir6 humain (Kir6.1 et 6.2) et 3 isoformes de SUR : SUR1, principalement exprimée avec Kir6.2 dans les cellules β pancréatiques et les neurones ; SUR2A, très abondante avec Kir6.1 dans les muscles cardiaques et squelettiques ; et SUR2B, présent avec Kir6.1 au niveau des muscles lisses. La façon dont SUR est capable de moduler l'ouverture du canal en réponse à la fixation d'un ligand est encore mal comprise.Au sein du canal K-ATP, SUR a un rôle de modulateur du gating de Kir6.2. Il a été montré que trois résidus (E1305, I1910, L1313) dans SUR2A, étaient impliqués dans la « voie d'activation » liant la fixation d'un ligand sur SUR2A et l'ouverture du canal Kir6. Afin d'examiner le rôle des résidus correspondants au sein de SUR1, nous avons réalisé des chimères entre SUR1 et le transporteur ABC MRP1 (qui n'interagit pas avec Kir6.2) et utilisé la technique du patch-clamp pour évaluer leur fonctionnalité. Nos résultats ont montré que les mêmes résidus au sein de SUR1 et SUR2A sont impliqués dans l'association fonctionnelle avec Kir6.2, mais que les spécificités au niveau de la chaine latérale pourraient expliquer les propriétés propres aux canaux pancréatiques et cardiaques. En effet, dans le pancréas, les canaux SUR1/Kir6.2 sont partiellement actifs au repos tandis que les canaux SUR2A/Kir6.2 du cœur sont principalement fermés. Cette spécificité peut être expliquée par les interactions spécifiques de SUR1 et SUR2A avec Kir6.2.La participation du canal Kir6.2 dans le couplage avec SUR ne peut être facilement étudiée puisque la région allant du N-terminal de Kir6.2 jusqu'à sa première hélice est physiquement associée à SUR. Des mutations à ce niveau pourraient affecter à la fois l'interaction physique et fonctionnelle avec SUR. Pour passer outre cet obstacle, nous avons utilisé la technologie ICCR développée dans notre laboratoire. Les ICCRs sont des protéines artificielles créées par couplage physique du C-terminal d'un RCPG au N-terminal de Kir6.2. Cette technologie permet l'étude de la fonction du N-ter de Kir6.2 puisque la fusion entre le RCPG et le canal assure une association fonctionnelle : le signal électrique généré par le canal ionique est directement lié à la fixation du ligand sur le RCPG. Le domaine reliant les deux protéines est essentiel pour la fonction de l'ICCR et sa longueur affecte la régulation du canal. De façon intéressante, deux ICCRs de même longueur mais ayant 9 résidus de différence présentent deux phénotypes différents : un fonctionnel, un inactif. L'ICCR inatif est caractérisé par la perte des résidus 26 à 34 du N-ter contenant 5 arginines. Nous avons réalisé la cartographie fonctionnelle de ces résidus essentiels pour la régulation de Kir6.2. Successivement, nous avons effectué les mêmes mutations d'arginines au sein du canal naturel K-ATP, mais n'avons pas observé de différence entre le canal muté et sauvage. Ces résultats suggèrent qu'il existe au moins deux voie de régulation pour le gating de Kir6.2 : une via les arginines du N-ter (utilisé par les RCPGs) et l'autre, toujours inconnue, utilisée par SUR. / ATP-sensitive potassium (K-ATP) channels play a key role in adjusting the membrane potential to the metabolic state of cells. They result from the unique combination of two proteins: the SulfonylUrea Receptor (SUR), a protein of the ABC transporters family, and the inward rectifier K+ channel Kir6. Both subunits associate to form a heterooctamer (4 SUR/4 Kir6) of ~ 1MDa. A high-resolution structure of the complex is still missing. To date, only a 18 Å structure of the full complex is available. Unfortunately, the low resolution prevent visualization of subunits arrangement. This PhD project aimed at obtaining structural and functional information on the functional coupling between Kir6.2 and SUR. Structural studies are still in progress.While 2 isoforms of the human Kir6 protein exists (Kir6.1 and 6.2), 3 isoforms of the SUR protein are known: SUR1, mostly expressed in pancreatic β-cells and neurons mainly with Kir6.2, SUR2A, abundant in cardiac and skeletal muscle mainly with Kir6.2, and SUR2B, found in smooth muscle mostly with Kir6.1. How SUR modulates channel gating in response to the binding of ligands is still poorly understood.The SUR protein belongs to a family of transporters but in K-ATP works as a gating modulator. How a 'transporter' modulate Kir6 gating? In SUR2A three residues (E1305, I1310, L1313) were found to be implicated in the ‘activation pathway' linking binding of openers to SUR2A and channel opening. To examine the role of the matching residues in the SUR1 isoform, we designed chimeras between SUR1 and the ABC transporter MRP1 (which does not interact with Kir6.2), and used patch clamp to assess the functionality of SUR1/MRP1 K-ATP chimeric channels. Our results reveal that the same residues in SUR1 and SUR2A are involved in the functional association with Kir6.2, but they display side-chain specificities that could account for the contrasted properties of pancreatic and cardiac K-ATP channels. In fact, in pancreas, SUR1/Kir6.2 channels are partly active at rest while in cardiomyocytes SUR2A/Kir6.2 channels are mostly closed. This divergence of function could be related to differences in the interaction of SUR1 and SUR2A with Kir6.2.The participation of the Kir6.2 channel in the coupling with SUR cannot be easily studied, as the region spanning from Kir6.2 N-terminal to its first helix is in thigh physical association with SUR. Mutations at this level could affect both physical and functional interaction with the regulatory subunit. To overcome this obstacle we used the ICCR technology developed in our laboratory. ICCRs are artificial proteins created by physical and functional linkage of a GPCR C-terminus to the Kir6.2 N-terminus. ICCRs provide a unique method to study the function of the Kir6.2 channel N-terminal, as the fusion between GPCR and channel ensure physical association. In ICCRs the electrical signal generated by the ion channel is directly linked to ligand binding on the GPCR. The domain linking GPCR and channel is crucial for ICCR function and its length affects channel regulation. Interestingly, two ICCRs, having identical linker length but nine residues differences at the fusion point, showed different phenotypes: one functional, one inactive (no channel regulation). The inactive ICCR is characterized by the lack of residues 26 to 34 in the channel N-terminus containing 5 arginines. We functionally mapped these arginines and identify specific residues essential for Kir6.2 regulation. Successively, we transferred this knowledge to the K-ATP mutating the previously found essential arginines. Here, we did not observe any change compared to wild-type channels. This result suggest that there are at least two ways to modulate Kir6.2 gating: one through the arginines in the N-terminal (used by the GPCR) and another, still unknown, used by SUR.

Les canaux potassiques sensibles à l’ATP (KATP) sont des canaux omniprésents liant excitabilité et énergie cellulaire. Ils fonctionnent en captant le niveau relatif des nucléotides ATP et ADP à l’intérieur des cellules: Les premiers bloquant le canal et les derniers l’activant. De plus le phospholipide phosphatidylinositol4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) est connu pour être un puissant régulateur des canaux KATP. Ceux-ci sont présents dans la plupart des tissus excitables et sont impliqués dans un grand nombre de fonctions physiologiques. L’objectif de ma thèse consiste à désigner un bloc dépendant de la lumière au niveau de ces KATP, afin de contrôler son activité optiquement tout en gardant ses propriétés natives. Cela a été accompli par la mutation de différents résidus en cystéine. Ce canal KATP complètement dépendant de la lumière, pourrait être utilisé pour réguler les actions de potentiels via la lumière afin de piloter différents aspects d’électrophysiologie cellulaire mais aussi de développer des applications de photo-traitements.J’ai également réalisé la cartographie fonctionnelle des résidus impliqués dans le gating du canal Kir6.2 sous le contrôle de protéines membranaires interagissant avec le domaine N-terminal. Cela a été réalisé par le design d’un canal artificiel Kir6.2 formé par la fusion du C-terminal d’un RCPG avec le N-terminal du canal. Des structures cristallographiques et des caractérisations fonctionnelles des canaux potassiques ont permis de mettre en évidence la présence de deux portes dans les domaines transmembranaires : le filtre de sélectivité et le « gate A » à l’interface cytoplasmique, et le troisième « gate » dans le domaine cytoplasmique du canal Kir connu sous le nom de « G loop gate ». Enfin j’ai caractérisé de mutations dans le gène ABCC9 codant pour SUR2A et associé au syndrome de Cantu (CS). Ces mutations sont localisées dans le domaine transmembranaire 0 (TMD0) de SUR2A, un domaine essentiel dans l’interaction entre Kir6.2 et SUR dans le complexe KATP. Les résultats suggèrent que les deux mutations cause une hyperactivité du canal via 2 mécanismes distincts : (1) Une diminution de la sensibilité de l’ATP affectant la modulation du PIP2, mais qui n’affecte pas l’activation par le Mg-ADP ou (2) aucun effets en réponse à l’ATP ou Mg-ADP, mais une sensibilité accrue au PIP2. Ces découvertes soulignent le rôle essentiel du TMD0 dans la modulation du « gating » de Kir6.2. En particulier, cela démontre qu’il y a un contrôle de la réponse du canal par des effecteurs intracellulaires qui se fixent sur Kir6.2, impliquant des interactions très liées entre Kir6.2 et la région TMD0. / ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels are ubiquitous channels designed to couple excitability to cellular energy. They perform this function by sensing the relative levels of the intracellular nucleotides ATP and ADP; with ATP blocking the channel and ADP activating it. Additionally, the phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is known to be a strong regulator of KATP channels. These channels are present in many excitable tissues and involved in many physiological functions. The aim of this thesis is to design a light dependent block of the KATP channel, in order to control its activity and have it under optical control while at the same time retaining its native properties. This was accomplished by mutating specific residues to cysteines. This light dependent blocked KATP channel, could be used to regulate action potentials with light to tune diverse aspects of cellular electrophysiology and potentially photo-pharmacology treatment. We also performed a functional mapping of the Kir6.2 channel gate(s) under the control of membrane proteins interacting with the N-terminal domain. This was performed by using a unique artificial gate Kir6.2 channel formed by fusing a GPCR C-terminus to the Kir6.2 N terminus. Crystallographic structures and functional characterizations of potassium channels demonstrated the presence of two gates in the transmembrane domains: the selectivity filter and the "A" gate at the cytoplasmic interface, and a third gate in the cytoplasmic domain of Kir channels known as the G loop gate. Unexpectedly, our results demonstrated that several gates could be involved suggesting a concerted mechanism. Finally, we characterized two single-point mutations in the ABCC9 gene encoding SUR2, that are associated with Cantu syndrome (CS). These mutations are localized in transmembrane domain 0 (TMD0) of SUR2A, an essential domain which mediates the interaction between Kir6.2 and SUR within the K-ATP channel complex. Results suggest that the two mutations cause KATP channel hyperactivity through two divergent mechanisms: (1) a decreased sensitivity to ATP inhibition and affecting the modulation by PIP2, and that does not affect activation by Mg-ADP or (2) any effect on the response to ATP and Mg-ADP, but more sensitive to activation by PIP2. These discoveries underline the essential role of TMD0 in the gating modulation of Kir6.2. They demonstrate in particular that it can control the response of the channel to intracellular effectors that bind to Kir6.2, implying tight interactions between Kir6.2 and the TMD0 region.

Repeated use of acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicides in recent years has resulted in the selection of 89 weed species resistant to these herbicides. One management strategy that can eliminate or slow the development of resistance is applying mixtures of herbicides with different modes of action. This research involved the characterization of ALS-inhibiting herbicide-resistant smooth pigweed (<i>Amaranthus hybridus</i> L.), as well as investigations on weed management programs in corn (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) utilizing mesotrione, a triketone, in mixtures with other herbicides. ALS-inhibiting herbicide-resistant smooth pigweed biotypes were collected from fields in Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania to evaluate response to ALS-inhibiting herbicides and to determine the molecular mechanisms of resistance. Sequencing of the ALS genes from these biotypes revealed two amino acid substitutions known to confer resistance, Ala₁₂₂ to Thr and Ser₆₅₃ to Asn, and one that has not been previously reported in plants, Asp₃₇₆ to Glu. The smooth pigweed biotype with an Asp₃₇₆ substitution displayed resistance to four classes of ALS-inhibiting herbicides that included imidazolinone (IMI), sulfonylurea (SU), pyrimidinylthiobenzoate (PTB), and triazolopyrimidine sulfonanilide (TP) chemistries. Transformation of this smooth pigweed ALS gene into <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> confirmed that the Asp₃₇₆ substitution is responsible for the resistance. Other biotypes that had a substitution at Ala₁₂₂ exhibited resistance to an IMI herbicide, little to no resistance to SU herbicides, and increased sensitivity to a PTB and a TP herbicide, whereas, biotypes that had a substitution at Ser₆₅₃ exhibited high-level resistance to an IMI herbicide and lower resistance to PTB and SU herbicides. Experiments were also conducted to investigate the effectiveness of mesotrione in preemergence (PRE) and postemergence (POST) corn weed management programs in Virginia. Mesotrione applied PRE in mixtures with <i>S</i>-metolachlor and atrazine controlled common lambsquarters (<i>Chenopodium album</i> L.), smooth pigweed, common ragweed (<i>Ambrosia artemisiifolia</i> L.), and morningglory (<i>Ipomoea</i> spp.) species when a timely rainfall followed application. POST applications of mesotrione controlled common lambsquarters and smooth pigweed, but common ragweed and morningglory species were not always controlled. Common ragweed and morningglory species were controlled by mesotrione in a mixture with atrazine POST. Large crabgrass [<i>Digitaria sanguinalis</i> (L.) Scop.] and giant foxtail (<i>Setaria faberi</i> Herrm.) control was generally better when the ALS-inhibiting herbicides nicosulfuron plus rimsulfuron or rimsulfuron plus thifensulfuron plus atrazine were applied in a mixture with mesotrione. Mixtures of mesotrione with other POST herbicides in a total POST program produced corn yields comparable to standard PRE followed by POST weed management programs. / Ph. D.

Concern has been raised that herbicides recently registered for use in warm-season turf to control perennial ryegrass could be dislodged from treated areas and deposited on neighboring cool-season grasses. In a field study, rimsulfuron was applied at 17.5 or 35 g ai/ha to perennial ryegrass in the afternoon; the following morning while dew was still present, a greens mower was driven through the perennial ryegrass and across adjacent creeping bentgrass. Irrigation had no effect on perennial ryegrass control but reduced visible track length and injury of neighboring creeping bentgrass. When treated perennial ryegrass was not irrigated prior to simulated mowing, tire tracks were evident on adjacent creeping bentgrass for up to 30 days. Gibberellic acid at 0.12 kg ai/ha and foliar iron at 1.3 kg ai/ha, applied to creeping bentgrass when tracks first appeared, did not enhance recovery of injured creeping bentgrass. Persistence and stability of [2-pyridine 14C] rimsulfuron on turf foliage was also assessed. Rimsulfuron was absorbed by annual bluegrass and perennial ryegrass equivalently and persisted equally on turf foliage. Water extractable rimsulfuron decreased from 60% at 10 minutes after treatment to 40% at 96 hours after treatment. A substantial amount of stable rimsulfuron persists on turf foliage for up to four days. Results from both studies suggest that when applying rimsulfuron near susceptible bentgrass the lowest effective rate should be used, and irrigation should follow two hours after treatment to prevent nontarget injury. / Master of Science

This thesis reports the cell culture establishment and a somatic cell selection system optimized for the isolation of chlorsulfuron-resistant variants in asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.). The development of this cell selection system benefited the isolation of chlorsulfuron-resistant variants from an elite asparagus genotype. A cell culture system, suitable for somatic cell selection, was established for asparagus genotype CRD 168. Friable callus was initiated from etiolated shoots in darkness and used to produce a high density of single cells in suspension. Cell density was estimated based on a linear relationship with settled cell volume. A mean plating efficiency of 0.19 % was recorded between 1-4x10⁵ cells/Petri dish. In vitro cell selection techniques were developed to identify mutant asparagus cells with resistance to a sulfonylurea herbicide, chlorsulfuron. A few key aspects were important to achieve this: a cell culture system for cell selection was initially established; a toxic concentration for the complete growth inhibition of the wild type asparagus cells was defined; rare, resistant cell colonies were isolated and characterized; and chlorsulfuron-resistant plants were regenerated. From about 50 million cells, 165 cell colonies were isolated in the presence of 8 nM chlorsulfuron. Characterization of these selected cell colonies yielded 24 escapes, 98 unstable variants, and 43 stable-resistant variants. Callus cultures from 34 of these stable variants retained resistance following 11 months growth in the absence of the selection agent. Plants were regenerated from 36 of these stable herbicide-resistant variants. Six of these chlorsulfuron-resistant variants were screened for their degree of resistance to chlorsulfuron, cross resistance to other acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS) inhibiting herbicides and AHAS enzyme activity. Cross resistance to imazamox was evident in four of the resistant variants, while lack of cross resistance to metsulfuron methyl was observed in all six resistant variants. A varying degree of resistance to chlorsulfuron was observed among the resistant variants. Both in the original and secondary callus, an uninhibited AHAS enzyme activity in all six resistant variants was recorded in the presence of high chlorsulfuron concentration (70-140 nM), compared to the total inhibition in the wild type. One chlorsulfuron-resistant variant, R-45, was used to compare the biochemical and physiological basis of resistance with the wild type. The AHAS enzyme activity in the tissue culture and greenhouse foliage of R-45 was significantly higher in the presence of up to 280 nM chlorsulfuron compared with the wild type. Chlorsulfuron retention was considerably higher due to the reduction of epicuticular wax deposits on the foliage of R-45, in comparison with the wild type. Consequently, the resistant line absorbed at least 1.6 fold more chlorsulfuron than the wild type plants. Therefore, foliar application of 15 g a.i./ha Glean (commercial formulation of chlorsulfuron) produced typical symptoms of chlorosis in R-45, similar to the wild type, in the greenhouse plants. Somatic cell selection was carried out using two elite asparagus genotypes, CRD 74 and Clone X. Of the 33 rare cell colonies isolated from Clone X, 22 unstable variants and 6 escapes were discarded. All five remaining resistant variants produced plants. One of the stable-resistant variants (Clone X-24) was evaluated for resistance to chlorsulfuron. Both in vitro shoot cultures and greenhouse-grown plants of Clone X-24 showed increased resistance to chlorsulfuron compared with the wild type. The AHAS enzyme activity in the foliar extracts also showed the presence of higher enzyme activity in Clone X-24.

Dans les eaux naturelles ou bien dans les eaux en cours de traitement, de nombreux processus peuvent générer des espèces réactives telles que de l´oxygène singulet, des ions superoxydes,des radicaux hydroxyles, ou bien d’autres oxydants. Dans les eaux naturelles, ces processus impliquent les substances humiques ou les ions nitrates en présence de lumière et d´oxygène. Dans les eaux en cours de traitement, les procédés d’oxydation avancée sont une source de production de radicaux hydroxyle. D’autres radicaux peuvent ensuite être formés par des réactions secondaires avec la matrice inorganique des eaux. Ces réactions aboutissent à la formation de radicaux inorganiques tels que les radicaux carbonates CO3·- et les radicaux chlores Cl· (atome de chlore). La réactivité de ces derniers est mal connue. Ce travail a pour but d’étudier la réactivité des radicaux carbonates et chlores avec des pesticides de type phénylurées, utilisés comme molécules modèles, et d’identifier les produits de dégradation. Le radical carbonate a été généré par la photolyse de [Co(NH3)5CO3]+, par photosensibilisation à partir de la 4- carboxybenzophenone, de la 1-nitronaphtalène et de la duroquinone et par l’excitation UV du peroxyde d’hydrogène. Le radical chlore a été généré par l’excitation UV du peroxyde d’hydrogène. Les constantes de vitesse de réaction des radicaux carbonates et chlores avec les pesticides étudiés, ont été déterminées, après validation d’une méthode de cinétique compétitive ou par modélisation cinétique. Ces constantes sont comprises pour le radical carbonate dans l’intervalle 0,35-3,5.107 L mol-1 s-1, et dans l’intervalle 1,2-3,9.108 L mol-1 s-1 pour le radical chlore. La comparaison de la réactivité des radicaux carbonates et chlores avec celle des radicaux hydroxyles, indique un facteur de l’ordre de 1000 pour le radical carbonate et de 100 pour le radical chlore, et ceci en faveur de la réactivité des radicaux hydroxyles. Plusieurs produits de dégradation du radical carbonate ont été identifiés. Il s’agit de produits d’hydroxylation du cycle aromatique, des produits issus d’une déméthylation, un dérivé quinone imine pour le fénuron, la cassure du pont dissulfure pour le metsulfuron méthyl. La comparaison des produits de dégradation formés avec les radicaux carbonates et hydroxyles met en évidence certains produits communs aux deux processus tandis que d’autres sont plus spécifiques. Les produits issus du radical carbonate sont moins nombreux en nombre que ceux issus du radical hydroxyle. / In natural water, humic substances are a source of reactive species production, in the presence of light and oxygen, such as singlet oxygen, superoxide, hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide but also a plurality of inorganic radicals such as the carbonate and chlorine radicals. The reactivity of these is unknown. This work aims to study the reactivity of carbonate and chorine radicals with pesticide ofphenylurea type and identify the products of degradation. The carbonate radical was generated by the photolysis of [Co(NH3)5CO3]+, by photosensitization from 4-carboxybenzophenone, from 1-nitronaphtalene and from duroquinone and by UV excitation of hydrogen peroxide. The chlorine radical was generated by UV excitation of hydrogen peroxide. The rate constants for reaction with the carbonate and chlorine radicals with the pesticides were determined after validation of competitive kinetic or kinetic modeling. These constants are included of the carbonate radical in the range 0.35-3.5x107 mol-1 L s-1, and in the range fron 1,2-3,9x108 mol-1 L s-1 for the chlorine radical. The comparison between the reactivity of the carbonate and chlorine radicals with the hydroxyl radicals, shows a factor 1000 for the carbonate radical and 100 for the chorine radical for the reactivity of hydroxyl radicals. Several degradation products were identified from the carbonate radical. These products were the hydroxylation of the aromatic ring, the products of demethylation, a derivative quionone imine for fenuron, the breaking of the bridge dissulfure for metsulfuron methyl. The comparison of the degradation products formed with carbonate and hydroxyl radicals show some common products to both processes, and others products are more specific. The products from the carbonate radical are fewer in number than those resulting from the hydroxyl radical.

Hair disorders cause psychological distress but are generally poorly controlled; more effective treatments are required. Despite the long-standing use of minoxidil for balding, its mechanism is unclear; suggestions include action on vasculature or follicle cells. Similar drugs also stimulate hair, implicating ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channels. To investigate whether K(ATP) channels are present in human follicles, we used organ culture, molecular biological, and immunohistological approaches. Minoxidil and tolbutamide, a K(ATP) channel blocker, opposed each other's effects on the growing phase (anagen) of scalp follicles cultured in media with and without insulin. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction identified K(ATP) channel component gene expression including regulatory sulfonylurea receptors (SUR) SUR1 and SUR2B but not SUR2A and pore-forming subunits (Kir) Kir6.1 and Kir6.2. When hair bulb tissues were examined separately, epithelial matrix expressed SUR1 and Kir6.2, whereas both dermal papilla and sheath exhibited SUR2B and Kir6.1. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated similar protein distributions. Thus, human follicles respond biologically to K(ATP) channel regulators in culture and express genes and proteins for two K(ATP) channels, Kir6.2/SUR1 and Kir6.1/SUR2B; minoxidil only stimulates SUR2 channels. These findings indicate that human follicular dermal papillae contain K(ATP) channels that can respond to minoxidil and that tolbutamide may suppress hair growth clinically; novel drugs designed specifically for these channels could treat hair disorders.

No description available.