The ABC protein turned chloride channel whose failure causes cystic fibrosis

Nature. 2006 Mar 23;440(7083):477-83. doi: 10.1038/nature04712.

Abstract

CFTR chloride channels are encoded by the gene mutated in patients with cystic fibrosis. These channels belong to the superfamily of ABC transporter ATPases. ATP-driven conformational changes, which in other ABC proteins fuel uphill substrate transport across cellular membranes, in CFTR open and close a gate to allow transmembrane flow of anions down their electrochemical gradient. New structural and biochemical information from prokaryotic ABC proteins and functional information from CFTR channels has led to a unifying mechanism explaining those ATP-driven conformational changes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / chemistry
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / genetics
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / metabolism*
  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cystic Fibrosis / etiology
  • Cystic Fibrosis / genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis / metabolism*
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / chemistry
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Hydrolysis
  • Ion Channel Gating
  • Mutation
  • Nucleotides / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Conformation
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary

Substances

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • CFTR protein, human
  • Nucleotides
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator
  • Adenosine Triphosphate