The binding of modulators of the ATP‐sensitive K⁺ channel (K_ATP channel) to the murine sulphonylurea receptor, SUR2B, was investigated. SUR2B, a proposed subunit of the vascular K_ATP channel, was expressed in HEK 293 cells and binding assays were performed in membranes at 37°C using the tritiated K_ATP channel opener, [³H]‐P1075. Binding of [³H]‐P1075 required the presence of Mg²⁺ and ATP. MgATP activated binding with EC₅₀ values of 10 and 3 μM at free Mg²⁺ concentrations of 3 μM and 1 mM, respectively. At 1 mM Mg²⁺, binding was lower than at 3 μM Mg²⁺. [³H]‐P1075 saturation binding experiments, performed at 3 mM ATP and free Mg²⁺ concentrations of 3 μM and 1 mM, gave K_D values of 1.8 and 3.4 nM and B_MAX values of 876 and 698 fmol mg⁻¹, respectively. In competition experiments, openers inhibited [³H]‐P1075 binding with potencies similar to those determined in rings of rat aorta. Glibenclamide inhibited [³H]‐P1075 binding with K_i values of 0.35 and 2.4 μM at 3 μM and 1 mM free Mg²⁺, respectively. Glibenclamide enhanced the dissociation of the [³H]‐P1075‐SUR2B complex suggesting a negative allosteric coupling between the binding sites for P1075 and the sulphonylureas. It is concluded that an MgATP site on SUR2B with μM affinity must be occupied to allow opener binding whereas Mg²⁺ concentrations 10 μM decrease the affinities for openers and glibenclamide. The properties of the [³H]‐P1075 site strongly suggest that SUR2B represents the drug receptor of the openers in vascular smooth muscle. British Journal of Pharmacology (1998) 125, 577–583; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0702109

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