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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.
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Cai Z, Palmai-Pallag T, Khuituan P, Mutolo MJ, Boinot C, Liu B, Scott-Ward TS, Callebaut I, Harris A, Sheppard DN. Impact of the F508del mutation on ovine CFTR, a Cl- channel with enhanced conductance and ATP-dependent gating. J Physiol 2015; 593:2427-46. [PMID: 25763566 DOI: 10.1113/jp270227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
KEY POINTS Malfunction of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a gated pathway for chloride movement, causes the common life-shortening genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF). Towards the development of a sheep model of CF, we have investigated the function of sheep CFTR. We found that sheep CFTR was noticeably more active than human CFTR, while the most common CF mutation, F508del, had reduced impact on sheep CFTR function. Our results demonstrate that subtle changes in protein structure have marked effects on CFTR function and the consequences of the CF mutation F508del. ABSTRACT Cross-species comparative studies are a powerful approach to understanding the epithelial Cl(-) channel cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), which is defective in the genetic disease cystic fibrosis (CF). Here, we investigate the single-channel behaviour of ovine CFTR and the impact of the most common CF mutation, F508del-CFTR, using excised inside-out membrane patches from transiently transfected CHO cells. Like human CFTR, ovine CFTR formed a weakly inwardly rectifying Cl(-) channel regulated by PKA-dependent phosphorylation, inhibited by the open-channel blocker glibenclamide. However, for three reasons, ovine CFTR was noticeably more active than human CFTR. First, single-channel conductance was increased. Second, open probability was augmented because the frequency and duration of channel openings were increased. Third, with enhanced affinity and efficacy, ATP more strongly stimulated ovine CFTR channel gating. Consistent with these data, the CFTR modulator phloxine B failed to potentiate ovine CFTR Cl(-) currents. Similar to its impact on human CFTR, the F508del mutation caused a temperature-sensitive folding defect, which disrupted ovine CFTR protein processing and reduced membrane stability. However, the F508del mutation had reduced impact on ovine CFTR channel gating in contrast to its marked effects on human CFTR. We conclude that ovine CFTR forms a regulated Cl(-) channel with enhanced conductance and ATP-dependent channel gating. This phylogenetic analysis of CFTR structure and function demonstrates that subtle changes in structure have pronounced effects on channel function and the consequences of the CF mutation F508del.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Cai
- School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Timea Palmai-Pallag
- Human Molecular Genetics Program, Lurie Children's Research Center and Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60614, USA.,Harris Laboratory, formerly at the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Pissared Khuituan
- School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK.,Center of Calcium and Bone Research, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
| | - Michael J Mutolo
- Human Molecular Genetics Program, Lurie Children's Research Center and Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60614, USA
| | - Clément Boinot
- Institut de Physiologie et Biologie Cellulaires, Université de Poitiers, CNRS FRE 3511, 86022, Poitiers, France
| | - Beihui Liu
- School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Toby S Scott-Ward
- School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Isabelle Callebaut
- IMPMC, Sorbonne Universités - UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR CNRS 7590, Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle, IRD UMR 206, IUC, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Ann Harris
- Human Molecular Genetics Program, Lurie Children's Research Center and Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60614, USA
| | - David N Sheppard
- School of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Bristol, Medical Sciences Building, University Walk, Bristol, BS8 1TD, UK
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Fan S, Harfoot N, Bartolo RC, Butt AG. CFTR is restricted to a small population of high expresser cells that provide a forskolin-sensitive transepithelial Cl- conductance in the proximal colon of the possum, Trichosurus vulpecula. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 215:1218-30. [PMID: 22399668 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.061176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is central to anion secretion in both the possum and eutherian small intestine. Here, we investigated its role in the possum proximal colon, which has novel transport properties compared with the eutherian proximal colon. Despite considerable CFTR expression, high doses of the CFTR activator forskolin (EC(50)≈10 μmol l(-1)) were required for a modest, CFTR-dependent increase in short-circuit current (I(sc)) in the proximal colon. Presumably, this is because CFTR is restricted to the apical membrane of a small population of CFTR high expresser (CHE) cells in the surface and upper crypt epithelium. Furthermore, although the forskolin-stimulated I(sc) was dependent on serosal Na(+), Cl(-) and HCO(3)(-), consistent with anion secretion, inhibition of the basolateral Na-K-2Cl(-) (NKCC1) or Na-HCO(3) (pNBCe1) cotransporters did not prevent it. Therefore, although NKCC1 and pNBCe1 are expressed in the colonic epithelium they do not appear to be expressed in CHE cells. At low doses (IC(50)≈1 μmol l(-1)), forskolin also decreased the transepithelial conductance (G(T)) of the colon through inhibition of a 4,4'-diisothiocyano-2,2'-stilbenedisulphonic acid-sensitive anion conductance in the basolateral membrane of the CHE cells. This conductance is arranged in series with CFTR in the CHE cells and, therefore, the CHE cells provide a transepithelial Cl(-) conductance for passive Cl(-) absorption across the epithelium. Inhibition of the basolateral Cl(-) conductance of the CHE cells by forskolin will inhibit Na(+) absorption by restricting the movement of its counter-ion Cl(-), assisting in the conversion of the tissue from an absorptive to a secretory state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujun Fan
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Gill M, Bartolo RC, Demmers K, Harfoot N, Fan S, Butt G. The distribution and expression of CFTR restricts electrogenic anion secretion to the ileum of the brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 214:1943-54. [PMID: 21562182 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.053371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In eutherian mammals, fluid secretion is essential for intestinal function. This is driven by electrogenic Cl(-) secretion, which involves a NaK2Cl cotransporter (NKCC1) in the enterocyte basolateral membrane and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in the apical membrane. However, in the possum ileum, NKCC1 expression is low and secretagogues stimulate electrogenic HCO(3)(-) secretion driven by a basolateral NaHCO(3) cotransporter (pNBCe1). Here we investigated whether electrogenic anion secretion occurs in possum duodenum and jejunum and determined the role of CFTR in possum intestinal anion secretion. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and forskolin stimulated a large increase in ileal short-circuit current (I(sc)), consistent with electrogenic HCO(3)(-) secretion, but had little effect on the duodenal and jejunal I(sc). Furthermore, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid (NPPB) and N-(2-naphthalenyl)-[(3,5-dibromo-2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)methylene]glycine hydrazide (GlyH101) inhibited cloned possum CFTR in cultured cells and the PGE(2)-stimulated ileal I(sc), implicating CFTR in ileal HCO(3)(-) secretion. Consistent with this, CFTR is expressed in the apical membrane of ileal crypt and lower villous cells, which also express pNBCe1 in the basolateral membrane. In contrast, duodenal and jejunal CFTR expression is low relative to the ileum. Jejunal pNBCe1 expression is also low, whereas duodenal and ileal pNBCe1 expression are comparable. All regions have low NKCC1 expression. These results indicate that cAMP-dependent electrogenic Cl(-) secretion does not occur in the possum small intestine because of the absence of CFTR and NKCC1. Furthermore, CFTR functions as the apical anion conductance associated with HCO(3)(-) secretion and its distribution limits electrogenic HCO(3)(-) secretion to the ileum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike Gill
- Department of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Li H, Ganta S, Fong P. Altered ion transport by thyroid epithelia from CFTR(-/-) pigs suggests mechanisms for hypothyroidism in cystic fibrosis. Exp Physiol 2010; 95:1132-44. [PMID: 20729267 DOI: 10.1113/expphysiol.2010.054700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Subclinical hypothyroidism has been linked to cystic fibrosis, and the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) shown to be expressed in the thyroid. The thyroid epithelium secretes Cl⁻ and absorbs Na(+) in response to cAMP. Chloride secretion may provide a counter-ion for the SLC26A4 (pendrin)-mediated I⁻ secretion which is required for the first step of thyroid hormonogenesis, thyroglobulin iodination. In contrast, few models exist to explain a role for Na(+) absorption. Whether CFTR mediates the secretory Cl⁻ current in thyroid epithelium has not been directly addressed. We used thyroids from a novel pig CFTR(-/-) model, generated primary pig thyroid epithelial cell cultures (pThECs), analysed these cultures for preservation of thyroid-specific transcripts and proteins, and monitored the following parameters: (1) the Cl⁻ secretory response to the cAMP agonist, isoprenaline; and (2) the amiloride-sensitive Na(+) current. Baseline short-circuit current (I(sc)) did not differ between CFTR(+/+) and CFTR(-/-) cultures. Serosal isoprenaline increased I(sc) in CFTR(+/+), but not CFTR(-/-), monolayers. Compared with CFTR(+/+) thyroid cultures, amiloride-sensitive Na(+) absorption measured in CFTR(-/-) pThECs represented a greater fraction of the resting I(sc). However, levels of transcripts encoding epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) subunits did not differ between CFTR(+/+) and CFTR(-/-) pThECs. Immunoblot analysis verified ENaC subunit protein expression, but quantification indicated no difference in expression levels. Our studies definitively demonstrate that CFTR mediates cAMP-stimulated Cl⁻ secretion in a well-differentiated thyroid culture model and that knockout of CFTR promotes increased Na(+) absorption by a mechanism other than increased ENaC expression. These findings suggest several models for the mechanism of cystic fibrosis-associated hypothyroidism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Li
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, 1600 Denison Avenue, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
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