The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator is a dual ATP and chloride channel

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) belongs to a superfamily of proteins implicated in the transport of ions, proteins, and hydrophobic substances. Recent studies have demonstrated that CFTR is a protein kinase A-sensitive anion channel regulated by ATP. In the present study, patch-clamp techniques were used to assess the role of CFTR in the transport of Cl- and ATP. The stable transfection of mouse mammary carcinoma cells, C127i, with the cDNA for human CFTR resulted in the appearance of a diphenylamine-2-carboxylate-inhibitable Cl- channel, which was activated by cAMP under whole-cell and cell-attached conditions and by protein kinase A plus ATP under excised, inside-out conditions. CFTR expression was also associated with the electrodiffusional movement of ATP as indicated by the cAMP activation of ATP currents measured under whole-cell conditions. In excised, inside-out patches, it was demonstrated that ATP currents were mediated by ATP-conductive channels, which were also activated by protein kinase A and blocked by the Cl- channel blocker diphenylamine-2-carboxylate under excised, inside-out conditions. Single-channel currents observed in the presence of asymmetrical Cl-/ATP concentrations indicated that the same conductive pathway was responsible for both ATP and Cl- movement. Thus, CFTR is a multifunctional protein with more than one anion transport capability and may modify signal transduction pathways for Cl- or other secretory processes by the selective delivery of nucleotides to the extracellular domain.