scholarly journals Locating the Anion-selectivity Filter of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) Chloride Channel

1997 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Cheung ◽  
Myles H. Akabas
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Voltage Dependence ◽  
Reaction Rates ◽  
Selectivity Filter ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance ◽  
Cation Selectivity ◽  
Anion Selectivity ◽  
Charge Selectivity ◽  
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator forms an anion-selective channel; the site and mechanism of charge selectivity is unknown. We previously reported that cysteines substituted, one at a time, for Ile331, Leu333, Arg334, Lys335, Phe337, Ser341, Ile344, Arg347, Thr351, Arg352, and Gln353, in and flanking the sixth membrane-spanning segment (M6), reacted with charged, sulfhydryl-specific, methanethiosulfonate (MTS) reagents. We inferred that these residues are on the water-accessible surface of the protein and may line the ion channel. We have now measured the voltage-dependence of the reaction rates of the MTS reagents with the accessible, engineered cysteines. By comparing the reaction rates of negatively and positively charged MTS reagents with these cysteines, we measured the extent of anion selectivity from the extracellular end of the channel to eight of the accessible residues. We show that the major site determining anion vs. cation selectivity is near the cytoplasmic end of the channel; it favors anions by ∼25-fold and may involve the residues Arg347 and Arg352. From the voltage dependence of the reaction rates, we calculated the electrical distance to the accessible residues. For the residues from Leu333 to Ser341 the electrical distance is not significantly different than zero; it is significantly different than zero for the residues Thr351 to Gln353. The maximum electrical distance measured was 0.6 suggesting that the channel extends more cytoplasmically and may include residues flanking the cytoplasmic end of the M6 segment. Furthermore, the electrical distance calculations indicate that R352C is closer to the extracellular end of the channel than either of the adjacent residues. We speculate that the cytoplasmic end of the M6 segment may loop back into the channel narrowing the lumen and thereby forming both the major resistance to current flow and the anion-selectivity filter.

scholarly journals Effect of ATP-sensitive K+ channel regulators on cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator chloride currents.

1992 ◽  
Vol 100 (4) ◽  
pp. 573-591 ◽  
Author(s):  
D N Sheppard ◽  
M J Welsh
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Voltage Dependence ◽  
K Channel ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance ◽  
K Channels ◽  
Intracellular Atp ◽  
Cl Channel ◽  
Cl Channels ◽  
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a Cl- channel that is regulated by cAMP-dependent phosphorylation and by intracellular ATP. Intracellular ATP also regulates a class of K+ channels that have a distinct pharmacology: they are inhibited by sulfonylureas and activated by a novel class of drugs called K+ channel openers. In search of modulators of CFTR Cl- channels, we examined the effect of sulfonylureas and K+ channel openers on CFTR Cl- currents in cells expressing recombinant CFTR. The sulfonylureas, tolbutamide and glibenclamide, inhibited whole-cell CFTR Cl- currents at half-maximal concentrations of approximately 150 and 20 microM, respectively. Inhibition by both agents showed little voltage dependence and developed slowly; > 90% inhibition occurred 3 min after adding 1 mM tolbutamide or 100 microM glibenclamide. The effect of tolbutamide was reversible, while that of glibenclamide was not. In contrast to their activating effect on K+ channels, the K+ channel openers, diazoxide, BRL 38227, and minoxidil sulfate inhibited CFTR Cl- currents. Half-maximal inhibition was observed at approximately 250 microM diazoxide, 50 microM BRL 38227, and 40 microM minoxidil sulfate. The rank order of potency for inhibition of CFTR Cl- currents was: glibenclamide < BRL 38227 approximately equal to minoxidil sulfate > tolbutamide > diazoxide. Site-directed mutations of CFTR in the first membrane-spanning domain and second nucleotide-binding domain did not affect glibenclamide inhibition of CFTR Cl- currents. However, when part of the R domain was deleted, glibenclamide inhibition showed significant voltage dependence. These agents, especially glibenclamide, which was the most potent, may be of value in identifying CFTR Cl- channels. They or related analogues might also prove to be of value in treating diseases such as diarrhea, which may involve increased activity of the CFTR Cl- channel.

Identification of a region of strong discrimination in the pore of CFTR

2001 ◽  
Vol 281 (4) ◽  
pp. L852-L867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nael A. McCarty ◽  
Zhi-Ren Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Dimensional Structure ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance ◽  
Structural Determinants ◽  
Anion Selectivity ◽  
Relative Conductance ◽  
Pore Domain ◽  
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane

The variety of methods used to identify the structural determinants of anion selectivity in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator Cl− channel has made it difficult to assemble the data into a coherent framework that describes the three-dimensional structure of the pore. Here, we compare the relative importance of sites previously studied and identify new sites that contribute strongly to anion selectivity. We studied Cl−and substitute anions in oocytes expressing wild-type cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator or 12-pore-domain mutants to determine relative permeability and relative conductance for 9 monovalent anions and 1 divalent anion. The data indicate that the region of strong discrimination resides between T338 and S341 in transmembrane 6, where mutations affected selectivity between Cl− and both large and small anions. Mutations further toward the extracellular end of the pore only strongly affected selectivity between Cl− and larger anions. Only mutations at S341 affected selectivity between monovalent and divalent anions. The data are consistent with a narrowing of the pore between the extracellular end and a constriction near the middle of the pore.

scholarly journals Halide Permeation in Wild-Type and Mutant Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Chloride Channels

1997 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 341-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph A. Tabcharani ◽  
Paul Linsdell ◽  
John W. Hanrahan
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Field Strength ◽  
Weak Field ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ◽  
Transmembrane Conductance ◽  
Patch Clamp Technique ◽  
Pipette Solution ◽  
Anion Selectivity ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane

Permeation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) Cl− channels by halide ions was studied in stably transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells by using the patch clamp technique. In cell-attached patches with a high Cl− pipette solution, the CFTR channel displayed outwardly rectifying currents and had a conductance near the membrane potential of 6.0 pS at 22°C or 8.7 pS at 37°C. The current–voltage relationship became linear when patches were excised into symmetrical, N-tris(hydroxymethyl)methyl-2-aminomethane sulfonate (TES)-buffered solutions. Under these conditions, conductance increased from 7.0 pS at 22°C to 10.9 pS at 37°C. The conductance at 22°C was ∼1.0 pS higher when TES and HEPES were omitted from the solution, suggesting weak, voltage-independent block by pH buffers. The relationship between conductance and Cl− activity was hyperbolic and well fitted by a Michaelis-Menten–type function having a Km of ∼38 mM and maximum conductance of 10 pS at 22°C. Dilution potentials measured with NaCl gradients indicated high anion selectivity (PNa/PCl = 0.003–0.028). Biionic reversal potentials measured immediately after exposure of the cytoplasmic side to various test anions indicated PI (1.8) > PBr (1.3) > PCl (1.0) > PF (0.17), consistent with a “weak field strength” selectivity site. The same sequence was obtained for external halides, although inward F− flow was not observed. Iodide currents were protocol dependent and became blocked after 1–2 min. This coincided with a large shift in the (extrapolated) reversal potential to values indicating a greatly reduced I−/Cl− permeability ratio (PI/PCl < 0.4). The switch to low I− permeability was enhanced at potentials that favored Cl− entry into the pore and was not observed in the R347D mutant, which is thought to lack an anion binding site involved in multi-ion pore behavior. Interactions between Cl− and I− ions may influence I− permeation and be responsible for the wide range of PI/PCl ratios that have been reported for the CFTR channel. The low PI/PCl ratio usually reported for CFTR only occurred after entry into an altered permeability state and thus may not be comparable with permeability ratios for other anions, which are obtained in the absence of iodide. We propose that CFTR displays a “weak field strength” anion selectivity sequence.

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