Structure-function study of the CFTR (ABCC7) chloride channel

ABC转运蛋白是一类在生物体生理学中发挥重要作用的蛋白质家族，从细菌到人类。它们在细胞的不同隔室或细胞外转运各种分子，如糖，维生素甚至小蛋白质。48种人类ABC蛋白质主要是涉及分泌物、药物解毒和免疫系统的输出者。结构研究有助于发现细菌ABC蛋白的3D结构，提供了关于它们如何工作的许多信息。不幸的是，对于更复杂的ABC蛋白，如人类蛋白，它们参与许多重要的生理功能，不可能通过结晶纯化它们并获得精确的3D结构。因此，它们的大部分特征和功能特性是通过与细菌ABC转运蛋白进行比较来确定的。因此，目前的模型需要进一步测试和评估的功能和生理相关的研究，如我们在我们的研究计划中提出的。

ABC transporters are a family of protein which play numerous important roles in organism physiology, from bacteria to human. They translocate a wide variety of molecules such as sugars, vitamins and even small proteins in different compartment of the cell or outside of cells. The 48 human ABC proteins are mostly exporters involved in secretions , drug detoxification, and the immune system. Structural studies have been instrumental in discovering the 3D structure of bacterial ABC proteins, providing numerous information on how they work. Unfortunately, for more complex ABC proteins, like the human ones, which are involved in many important physiological functions, it is not possible to purify them and obtain a precise 3D structure by crystallisation. Most of their characteristics and functional properties are thus determined by comparison with bacterial ABC transporters. As a result, current models need to be further tested and evaluated by functional and physiologically relevant studies, such as those we propose in our research program.