Molecular models of the open and closed states of the whole human CFTR protein

Cell Mol Life Sci. 2009 Nov;66(21):3469-86. doi: 10.1007/s00018-009-0133-0. Epub 2009 Aug 26.

Abstract

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), involved in cystic fibrosis (CF), is a chloride channel belonging to the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) superfamily. Using the experimental structure of Sav1866 as template, we previously modeled the human CFTR structure, including membrane-spanning domains (MSD) and nucleotide-binding domains (NBD), in an outward-facing conformation (open channel state). Here, we constructed a model of the CFTR inward-facing conformation (closed channel) on the basis of the recent corrected structures of MsbA and compared the structural features of those two states of the channel. Interestingly, the MSD:NBD coupling interfaces including F508 (DeltaF508 being the most common CF mutation) are mainly left unchanged. This prediction, completed by the modeling of the regulatory R domain, is supported by experimental data and provides a molecular basis for a better understanding of the functioning of CFTR, especially of the structural features that make CFTR the unique channel among the ABC transporters.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters / chemistry
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Computer Simulation
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / chemistry*
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / genetics
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / metabolism
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator / physiology
  • Humans
  • Models, Molecular*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Mutagenesis, Site-Directed
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / genetics
  • Protein Structure, Tertiary / physiology
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Structure-Activity Relationship

Substances

  • ATP-Binding Cassette Transporters
  • Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator