Localization of CFTR Ion Channel

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is an integral membrane protein that is transported through vesicle membrane compartments. Creative Bioarray is committed to providing clients with the localization of CFTR to understand how CFTR traffics via the secretory pathway, providing detailed information to elucidate CFTR trafficking with therapeutic importance for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.

Background

CFTR is a member of the ATP-binding cassette family and is a cAMP-dependent chloride channel protein. CFTR is widely found in mammalian epithelial tissues related to secretion and absorption, such as the pancreas, bile ducts, sweat glands, vas deferens, and many other organs, and is intracellularly localized to the apical membrane of cells. Mutations in the CFTR gene are responsible for the autosomal recessive disease cystic fibrosis.

Scientists have long been interested in the CFTR ion channel, particularly in how it traffics via the secretory pathway and how it becomes polarized to the apical membrane in epithelial cells. There is now increasing evidence that it is localized not only in the plasma membrane but also in intracellular organelles such as endosomes, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, Golgi apparatus, phagosomes, and mitochondria. Examining the intracellular localization of CFTR proteins and intracellular pathways in these compartments will help to further understand the importance of CFTR and open up new targets for drug intervention in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Fig. 1 Localization of CFTR in rat seminiferous tubules. (Sharma, 2018)

Our Services

In order to provide our clients with subcellular localization services for the CFTR ion channel in natural and overexpressed systems, our researchers have developed a variety of strategies including immunocytochemical methods, subcellular fractionation, and recombinant strategies employing "tagged" CFTR. Our services include but are not limited to:

• Monitoring the glycosylation status of CFTR.
• Detection of CFTR expression on the plasma membrane.
• Detection of CFTR in compartments of the endoplasmic reticulum, endosomes, Golgi apparatus, and membranes of endosomal/lysosomal pathways.
• Localization of CFTR in the germinal epithelium of the testis, spermatozoa, and Sertoli cells.
• Confocal analysis of the polarized distribution of CFTR.
• Analysis of intracellular trafficking of CFTR.

Applications

The CFTR localization service we provide helps our clients conduct research in the following areas:

• Study on the physiological function of CFTR localization
• Study on the function of CFTR in controlling vesicle movement
• Development of new treatment strategies for different levels of CFTR

Creative Bioarray has developed a variety of experimental methods for localizing CFTR and studying its polarised trafficking to help clients analyze the determinants of CFTR localization to the apical membrane in polarized epithelial cells. We provide you with the best experimental methods as well as reliable and detailed results to accelerate your research on the CFTR ion channel. If you are interested in our scientific services and technical support, please contact us for more details.

Reference

1. Sharma, S.; et al. Localization of epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) and CFTR in the germinal epithelium of the testis, Sertoli cells, and spermatozoa. Journal of Molecular Histology, 2018, 49(2): 195-208.