In the COS7 cells transfected with cDNAs of the Kir6.2, SUR2A, and M(1) muscarinic receptors, we activated the ATP-sensitive potassium (K(ATP)) channel with a K(+) channel opener and recorded the whole-cell K(ATP) current. The K(ATP) current was reversibly inhibited by the stimulation of the M(1) receptor, which is linked to phospholipase C (PLC) by the G(q) protein. The receptor-mediated inhibition was observed even when protein kinase C (PKC) was inhibited by H-7 or by chelating intracellular Ca(2+) with 10 mM 1, 2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (BAPTA) included in the pipette solution. However, the receptor-mediated inhibition was blocked by U-73122, a PLC inhibitor. M(1)-receptor stimulation failed to inhibit the K(ATP) current activated by the injection of exogenous phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP(2)) through the whole-cell patch pipette. The receptor-mediated inhibition became irreversible when the replenishment of PIP(2) was blocked by wortmannin (an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol kinases), or by including adenosine 5'-[beta,gamma-imido]triphosphate (AMPPNP, a nonhydrolyzable ATP analogue) in the pipette solution. In inside-out patch experiments, the ATP sensitivity of the K(ATP) channel was significantly higher when the M(1) receptor in the patch membrane was stimulated by acetylcholine. The stimulatory effect of pinacidil was also attenuated under this condition. We postulate that stimulation of PLC-linked receptors inhibited the K(ATP) channel by increasing the ATP sensitivity, not through PKC activation, but most probably through changing PIP(2) levels.