title: Exploiting species differences to understand the CFTR Cl- channel.
abstract: The anion channel cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a unique ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter. CFTR plays a pivotal role in transepithelial ion transport as its dysfunction in the genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF) dramatically demonstrates. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that CFTR first appeared in aquatic vertebrates fulfilling important roles in osmosensing and organ development. Here, we review selectively, knowledge of CFTR structure, function and pharmacology, gleaned from cross-species comparative studies of recombinant CFTR proteins, including CFTR chimeras. The data argue that subtle changes in CFTR structure can affect strongly channel function and the action of CF mutations.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, U.K.
authors.forename: Samuel J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Bose
authors.affiliation: School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, U.K. d.n.sheppard@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Toby S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Scott-Ward
authors.affiliation: School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, U.K.
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Biomedical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, U.K. d.n.sheppard@bristol.ac.uk.
authors.forename: David N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Sheppard
mesh_terms: D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015640:Ion Channel Gating / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D009154:Mutation; D010802:Phylogeny; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D019005:Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator; D000249:Adenosine Monophosphate; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate
keywords: ATP-binding cassette transporter; CFTR pharmacology; F508del–CFTR; chloride ion channel; cystic fibrosis; cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)