CHLORIDE CHANNELS OF INTRACELLULAR ORGANELLES AND THEIR POTENTIAL ROLE IN CYSTIC-FIBROSIS

Chloride channels were previously purified from bovine kidney cortex membranes using a drug affinity column. Reconstitution of the purified proteins into artificial liposomes and planar bilayers yielded chloride channels. A 64x10(3)M(r) protein, p64, identified as a component of this chloride channel, was used to generate antibodies which depleted solubilized kidney membranes of all chloride channel activity. This antibody has now been used to identify a clone, H2B, from a kidney cDNA library. Antibodies, affinity-purified against the fusion protein of H2B, also depleted solubilized kidney cortex from all chloride channel activity. The predicted amino acid sequence of p64 shows that it contains two and possibly four putative transmembrane domains and potential phosphorylation sites by protein kinases A and C. There was no significant homology to other protein (or DNA) sequences in the data base including other anion channels or the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator. The protein is expressed in all cells tested and probably represents the chloride channel of intracellular organelles. Cystic fibrosis (CF) is associated with a defect in a cyclic-AMP-activated chloride channel in secretory epithelia which leads to decreased fluid secretion. In addition, many mucus glycoproteins show decreased sialylation but increased sulfation. We have recently shown that the pH of intracellular organelles is more alkaline in CF cells, an abnormality that is due to defective chloride conductance in the vesicle membranes. We postulate that the defect in the intracellular chloride channel, and hence the alkalization, could explain the glycosylation abnormalities since the pH optimum of Golgi sialyltransferase is acid while that of focusyl- and sulfotransferases is alkaline. Defects in sialyation of glycolipids might also generate receptors for Pseudomonas, which is known to colonize the respiratory tract of CF patients.