A Topological Switch in CFTR Modulates Channel Activity and Sensitivity to Unfolding

Daniel Scholl; Yiting Wang; David N Sheppard; Cédric Govaerts; et al.

doi:10.1038/s41589-021-00844-0

A Topological Switch in CFTR Modulates Channel Activity and Sensitivity to Unfolding

Daniel Scholl, Yiting Wang, David N Sheppard, Cédric Govaerts, et al.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

Abstract

The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel is essential to maintain fluid homeostasis in key organs. Functional impairment of CFTR due to mutations in the cftr gene leads to cystic fibrosis. Here, we show that the first nucleotide-binding domain (NBD1) of CFTR can spontaneously adopt an alternate conformation that departs from the canonical NBD fold previously observed. Crystallography reveals that this conformation involves a topological reorganization of NBD1. Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy shows that the equilibrium between the conformations is regulated by adenosine triphosphate binding. However, under destabilizing conditions, such as the disease-causing mutation F508del, this conformational flexibility enables unfolding of the β-subdomain. Our data indicate that, in wild-type CFTR, this conformational transition of NBD1 regulates channel function, but, in the presence of the F508del mutation, it allows domain misfolding and subsequent protein degradation. Our work provides a framework to design conformation-specific therapeutics to prevent noxious transitions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	989-997
Number of pages	9
Journal	Nature Chemical Biology
Volume	17
Issue number	9
Early online date	2 Aug 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-021-00844-0
Publication status	Published - Sep 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
We thank C. R. O’Riordan for C127 cells, J. Kappes for HEK293 CFTR cells and J. R. Riordan, T. Jensen and CF Foundation Therapeutics for anti-CFTR antibodies. C.G. acknowledges support by the Fonds Forton, Welbio (grant no. CR-2012S-04R), Vaincre la Mucoviscidose, Mukoviszidose e.V., the Association Luxembourgeoise de Lutte contre la Mucoviscidose, ABCF2, Chiesi Fondation, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Fondation Air Liquide and Fondation ULB. D.N.S acknowledges support from the CF Trust and CF Foundation Therapeutics. J.S. acknowledges support from Instruct-ERIC, part of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), Instruct-ULTRA (EU H2020 grant no. 731005) and the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO) for support with nanobody discovery. C.G. is a senior Research Associate of the FRS-FNRS. D.S. was a fellow of the FRIA. We acknowledge Diamond Light Source for time on beamlines i02, i04 and i24 under proposals 12718 and 9426. We are grateful to H. Remaut and B. Kobilka for careful reading of the manuscript. We thank F. Sobott and J. Ault of the Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry department in the Astbury Centre for their support and assistance in this work, as well as the BBSRC (BB/M012573/1) for funding.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.

Keywords

ion channels
protein folding
single-molecule biophysics
x-ray crystallography

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abstract = "The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel is essential to maintain fluid homeostasis in key organs. Functional impairment of CFTR due to mutations in the cftr gene leads to cystic fibrosis. Here, we show that the first nucleotide-binding domain (NBD1) of CFTR can spontaneously adopt an alternate conformation that departs from the canonical NBD fold previously observed. Crystallography reveals that this conformation involves a topological reorganization of NBD1. Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy shows that the equilibrium between the conformations is regulated by adenosine triphosphate binding. However, under destabilizing conditions, such as the disease-causing mutation F508del, this conformational flexibility enables unfolding of the β-subdomain. Our data indicate that, in wild-type CFTR, this conformational transition of NBD1 regulates channel function, but, in the presence of the F508del mutation, it allows domain misfolding and subsequent protein degradation. Our work provides a framework to design conformation-specific therapeutics to prevent noxious transitions.",

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note = "Funding Information: We thank C. R. O{\textquoteright}Riordan for C127 cells, J. Kappes for HEK293 CFTR cells and J. R. Riordan, T. Jensen and CF Foundation Therapeutics for anti-CFTR antibodies. C.G. acknowledges support by the Fonds Forton, Welbio (grant no. CR-2012S-04R), Vaincre la Mucoviscidose, Mukoviszidose e.V., the Association Luxembourgeoise de Lutte contre la Mucoviscidose, ABCF2, Chiesi Fondation, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Fondation Air Liquide and Fondation ULB. D.N.S acknowledges support from the CF Trust and CF Foundation Therapeutics. J.S. acknowledges support from Instruct-ERIC, part of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), Instruct-ULTRA (EU H2020 grant no. 731005) and the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO) for support with nanobody discovery. C.G. is a senior Research Associate of the FRS-FNRS. D.S. was a fellow of the FRIA. We acknowledge Diamond Light Source for time on beamlines i02, i04 and i24 under proposals 12718 and 9426. We are grateful to H. Remaut and B. Kobilka for careful reading of the manuscript. We thank F. Sobott and J. Ault of the Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry department in the Astbury Centre for their support and assistance in this work, as well as the BBSRC (BB/M012573/1) for funding. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.",

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N1 - Funding Information: We thank C. R. O’Riordan for C127 cells, J. Kappes for HEK293 CFTR cells and J. R. Riordan, T. Jensen and CF Foundation Therapeutics for anti-CFTR antibodies. C.G. acknowledges support by the Fonds Forton, Welbio (grant no. CR-2012S-04R), Vaincre la Mucoviscidose, Mukoviszidose e.V., the Association Luxembourgeoise de Lutte contre la Mucoviscidose, ABCF2, Chiesi Fondation, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Fondation Air Liquide and Fondation ULB. D.N.S acknowledges support from the CF Trust and CF Foundation Therapeutics. J.S. acknowledges support from Instruct-ERIC, part of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI), Instruct-ULTRA (EU H2020 grant no. 731005) and the Research Foundation—Flanders (FWO) for support with nanobody discovery. C.G. is a senior Research Associate of the FRS-FNRS. D.S. was a fellow of the FRIA. We acknowledge Diamond Light Source for time on beamlines i02, i04 and i24 under proposals 12718 and 9426. We are grateful to H. Remaut and B. Kobilka for careful reading of the manuscript. We thank F. Sobott and J. Ault of the Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry department in the Astbury Centre for their support and assistance in this work, as well as the BBSRC (BB/M012573/1) for funding. Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc.

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AB - The cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) anion channel is essential to maintain fluid homeostasis in key organs. Functional impairment of CFTR due to mutations in the cftr gene leads to cystic fibrosis. Here, we show that the first nucleotide-binding domain (NBD1) of CFTR can spontaneously adopt an alternate conformation that departs from the canonical NBD fold previously observed. Crystallography reveals that this conformation involves a topological reorganization of NBD1. Single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy shows that the equilibrium between the conformations is regulated by adenosine triphosphate binding. However, under destabilizing conditions, such as the disease-causing mutation F508del, this conformational flexibility enables unfolding of the β-subdomain. Our data indicate that, in wild-type CFTR, this conformational transition of NBD1 regulates channel function, but, in the presence of the F508del mutation, it allows domain misfolding and subsequent protein degradation. Our work provides a framework to design conformation-specific therapeutics to prevent noxious transitions.

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KW - single-molecule biophysics

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DO - 10.1038/s41589-021-00844-0

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JO - Nature Chemical Biology

JF - Nature Chemical Biology

SN - 1552-4450

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ER -

A Topological Switch in CFTR Modulates Channel Activity and Sensitivity to Unfolding

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

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