scholarly journals Positioning of extracellular loop 1 affects pore gating of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator

2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (5) ◽  
pp. L403-L414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel T. Infield ◽  
Guiying Cui ◽  
Christopher Kuang ◽  
Nael A. McCarty

The cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a chloride ion channel, the dysfunction of which directly leads to the life-shortening disease CF. Extracellular loop 1 (ECL1) of CFTR contains several residues involved in stabilizing the open state of the channel; some, including D110, are sites of disease-associated gating mutations. Structures from related proteins suggest that the position of CFTR's extracellular loops may change considerably during gating. To better understand the roles of ECL1 in CFTR function, we utilized functional cysteine cross-linking to determine the effects of modulation of D110C-CFTR and of a double mutant of D110C with K892C in extracellular loop 4 (ECL4). The reducing agent DTT elicited a large potentiation of the macroscopic conductance of D110C/K892C-CFTR, likely due to breakage of a spontaneous disulfide bond between C110 and C892. DTT-reduced D110C/K892C-CFTR was rapidly inhibited by binding cadmium ions with high affinity, suggesting that these residues frequently come in close proximity in actively gating channels. Effects of DTT and cadmium on modulation of pore gating were demonstrated at the single-channel level. Finally, disulfided D110C/K892C-CFTR channels were found to be less sensitive than wild-type or DTT-treated D110C/K892C-CFTR channels to stimulation by IBMX, suggesting an impact of this conformational restriction on channel activation by phosphorylation. The results are best explained in the context of a model of CFTR gating wherein stable channel opening requires correct positioning of functional elements structurally influenced by ECL1.

2016 ◽  
pp. 505-515
Author(s):  
F. QIAN ◽  
L. LIU ◽  
Z. LIU ◽  
C. LU

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride channel contains 12 transmembrane (TM) regions that are presumed to form the channel pore. However, there is no direct evidence clearly illustrating the involvement of these transmembrane regions in the actual CFTR pore structure. To obtain insight into the architecture of the CFTR channel pore, we used patch clamp recording techniques and a strategy of co-mutagenesis of two potential pore-forming transmembrane regions (TM1 and TM6) to investigate the collaboration of these two TM regions. We performed a range of specific functional assays comparing the single channel conductance, anion binding, and anion selectivity properties of the co-mutated CFTR variants, and the results indicated that TM1 and TM6 play vital roles in forming the channel pore and, thus, determine the functional properties of the channel. Furthermore, we provided functional evidence that the amino acid threonine (T338) in TM6 has synergic effects with lysine (K95) in TM1. Therefore, we propose that these two residues have functional collaboration in the CFTR channel pore and may collectively form a selective filter.


Breathe ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 210112
Author(s):  
Daniel H. Tewkesbury ◽  
Rebecca C. Robey ◽  
Peter J. Barry

The genetic multisystem condition cystic fibrosis (CF) has seen a paradigm shift in therapeutic approaches within the past decade. Since the first clinical descriptions in the 1930s, treatment advances had focused on the downstream consequences of a dysfunctional cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) chloride ion channel. The discovery of the gene that codes for CFTR and an understanding of the way in which different genetic mutations lead to disruption of normal CFTR function have led to the creation and subsequent licensing of drugs that target this process. This marks an important move towards precision medicine in CF and results from clinical trials and real-world clinical practice have been impressive. In this review we outline how CFTR modulator drugs restore function to the CFTR protein and the progress that is being made in this field. We also describe the real-world impact of CFTR modulators on both pulmonary and multisystem complications of CF and what this will mean for the future of CF care.


2013 ◽  
Vol 24 (19) ◽  
pp. 3016-3024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hong Yu Ren ◽  
Diane E. Grove ◽  
Oxana De La Rosa ◽  
Scott A. Houck ◽  
Pattarawut Sopha ◽  
...  

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a fatal genetic disorder associated with defective hydration of lung airways due to the loss of chloride transport through the CF transmembrane conductance regulator protein (CFTR). CFTR contains two membrane-spanning domains (MSDs), two nucleotide-binding domains (NBDs), and a regulatory domain, and its channel assembly requires multiple interdomain contacts. The most common CF-causing mutation, F508del, occurs in NBD1 and results in misfolding and premature degradation of F508del-CFTR. VX-809 is an investigational CFTR corrector that partially restores CFTR function in people who are homozygous for F508del-CFTR. To identify the folding defect(s) in F508del-CFTR that must be repaired to treat CF, we explored the mechanism of VX-809 action. VX-809 stabilized an N-terminal domain in CFTR that contains only MSD1 and efficaciously restored function to CFTR forms that have missense mutations in MSD1. The action of VX-809 on MSD1 appears to suppress folding defects in F508del-CFTR by enhancing interactions among the NBD1, MSD1, and MSD2 domains. The ability of VX-809 to correct F508del-CFTR is enhanced when combined with mutations that improve F508del-NBD1 interaction with MSD2. These data suggest that the use of VX-809 in combination with an additional CFTR corrector that suppresses folding defects downstream of MSD1 may further enhance CFTR function in people with F508del-CFTR.


1991 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 3886-3893 ◽  
Author(s):  
R J Gregory ◽  
D P Rich ◽  
S H Cheng ◽  
D W Souza ◽  
S Paul ◽  
...  

One feature of the mutations thus far found to be associated with the disease cystic fibrosis (CF) is that many of them are clustered within the first nucleotide-binding domain (NBD) of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). We sought to discover the molecular basis for this clustering by introducing into the two NBDs of CFTR mutations either mimicking amino acid changes associated with CF or altering residues within highly conserved motifs. Synthesis and maturation of the mutant CFTR were studied by transient expression in COS cells. The ability of the altered proteins to generate cyclic AMP-stimulated anion efflux was assessed by using 6-methoxy-N-(sulfopropyl) quinolinium (SPQ) fluorescence measurements in HeLa cells expressing mutated plasmids. The results show that (i) all CF-associated mutants, with one exception, lack functional activity as measured in the SPQ assay, (ii) mutations in NBD1 are more sensitive to the effects of the same amino acid change than are the corresponding mutations in NBD2, (iii) cells transfected with plasmids bearing CF-associated mutations commonly but not exclusively lack mature CFTR, (iv) NBD mutants lacking mature CFTR fail to activate Cl- channels, and (v) the glycosylation of CFTR, per se, is not required for CFTR function. We reason that the structure of NBD1 itself or of the surrounding domains renders it particularly sensitive to mutational changes. As a result, most NBD1 mutants, but only a few NBD2 mutants, fail to mature or lack functional activity. These findings are consistent with the observed uneven distribution of CFTR missense mutations between NBD1 and NBD2 of CF patients.


2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (4) ◽  
pp. L677-L686 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. William Vandivier ◽  
Tiffany R. Richens ◽  
Sarah A. Horstmann ◽  
Aimee M. deCathelineau ◽  
Moumita Ghosh ◽  
...  

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by mutated CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and is characterized by robust airway inflammation and accumulation of apoptotic cells. Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells (efferocytosis) is a pivotal regulator of inflammation, because it prevents postapoptotic necrosis and actively suppresses release of a variety of proinflammatory mediators, including IL-8. Because CF is associated with accumulation of apoptotic cells, inappropriate levels of IL-8, and robust inflammation, we sought to determine whether CFTR deficiency specifically impairs efferocytosis and its regulation of inflammatory mediator release. Here we show that CFTR deficiency directly interferes with efferocytosis by airway epithelium, an effect that is not due to altered binding of apoptotic cells to epithelial cells or altered expression of efferocytosis receptors. In contrast, expression of RhoA, a known negative regulator of efferocytosis, is substantially increased in CFTR-deficient cells, and inhibitors of RhoA or its downstream effector Rho kinase normalize efferocytosis in these cells. Impaired efferocytosis appears to be mediated through an amiloride-sensitive ion channel, because amiloride restores phagocytic competency in CFTR-deficient cells. Finally, ineffective efferocytosis in CFTR-deficient cells appears to have proinflammatory consequences, because apoptotic cells enhance IL-8 release by these cells, but not by wild-type controls. Therefore, in CF, dysregulated efferocytosis may lead to accumulation of apoptotic cells and impaired regulation of the inflammatory response and, ultimately, may suggest a new therapeutic target.


2002 ◽  
Vol 364 (1) ◽  
pp. 115-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josie L. FALANY ◽  
Heather GREER ◽  
Timea KOVACS ◽  
Eric J. SORSCHER ◽  
Charles N. FALANY

The severity of intestinal disease in the cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) (-/−) mice has been reported to co-segregate with gene loci which contain the genes for hydroxysteroid sulphotransferase (SULT). Because of the potential involvement of steroid hormones in CF, we investigated levels of steroid SULT activity in the livers of CFTR mice to determine whether the levels of SULT activity correlate with the occurrence or severity of CF. To elucidate the possible role of SULT activity in ameliorating the deleterious effects of CF in CFTR (-/−) mice, we determined the levels of phenol SULT (PST), hydroxysteroid SULT [dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-ST] and oestrogen SULT (EST) activity in control CFTR (+/+), heterozygous CFTR (+/−) and homozygous CFTR (-/−) mice, which survive to adulthood. The level of PST activity was not significantly different between any of the groups of mice, regardless of sex or genotype. Although DHEA-ST activity was significantly higher in female mice than in male mice, there was no difference in DHEA-ST activity that could be correlated with genotype. In contrast with PST and DHEA-ST activities, we found that some male and all female adult CFTR (-/−) mice had elevated, dramatically different levels of EST from both CFTR (+/+) and CFTR (+/−) mice. Results from these SULT activity experiments were confirmed by Northern-blot analysis of mouse-liver RNA. Subsequent studies with preweanling mice revealed no differences in the levels of EST that could be correlated with genotype. Thus this study indicates that EST is elevated significantly in CFTR (-/−) mice which survive to adulthood and provides important biochemical information that EST levels may be protective in CF.


2020 ◽  
Vol 477 (13) ◽  
pp. 2561-2580
Author(s):  
João D. Santos ◽  
Francisco R. Pinto ◽  
João F. Ferreira ◽  
Margarida D. Amaral ◽  
Manuela Zaccolo ◽  
...  

Cystic Fibrosis (CF), the most common lethal autosomic recessive disorder among Caucasians, is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane conductance Regulator (CFTR) protein, a cAMP-regulated chloride channel expressed at the apical surface of epithelial cells. Cyclic AMP regulates both CFTR channel gating through a protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent process and plasma membane (PM) stability through activation of the exchange protein directly activated by cAMP1 (EPAC1). This cAMP effector, when activated promotes the NHERF1:CFTR interaction leading to an increase in CFTR at the PM by decreasing its endocytosis. Here, we used protein interaction profiling and bioinformatic analysis to identify proteins that interact with CFTR under EPAC1 activation as possible regulators of this CFTR PM anchoring. We identified an enrichment in cytoskeleton related proteins among which we characterized CAPZA2 and INF2 as regulators of CFTR trafficking to the PM. We found that CAPZA2 promotes wt-CFTR trafficking under EPAC1 activation at the PM whereas reduction of INF2 levels leads to a similar trafficking promotion effect. These results suggest that CAPZA2 is a positive regulator and INF2 a negative one for the increase of CFTR at the PM after an increase of cAMP and concomitant EPAC1 activation. Identifying the specific interactions involving CFTR and elicited by EPAC1 activation provides novel insights into late CFTR trafficking, insertion and/or stabilization at the PM and highlighs new potential therapeutic targets to tackle CF disease.


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