Effect of mitochondrial ATP sensitive potassium channels opening on translocation of protein kinase C epsilon in cultured adult rat ventricular myocytes

AIM: To investigate the effects of mitochondrial ATP sensitive potassium (MitoKATP) channel opening on translocation of protein kinase C epsilon (PKCε) and the relationship between the translocation of PKCε and the production of reactive oxygen species. METHODS: The expression of PKCε in cultured adult rat ventricular myocytes was investigated with immunofluorescence and Western blotting techniques. RESULTS: （1） Diazoxide, a selective MitoKATP channel opener, caused a significant translocation to myofibrillar-like structures in cultured adult rat ventricular myocytes. (2) The N-2-mercaptopropionylglycine (MPG), a free radical scavenger, partly inhibited the translocation of PKCε caused by diazoxide. (3) Chelerythrine, a selective protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, completely blocked the translocation of PKCε caused by diazoxide. CONCLUSION: Opening of MitoKATP channel might activate PKCε and make it translocation to myofibrillar-like structures. PKCε activation occurs downstream of MitoKATP channel, and might be caused by production of reactive oxygen species after opening of MitoKATP channel.