It has been demonstrated previously that both the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and ␤2 adrenergic receptor (␤2AR) can bind ezrin͞radixin͞moesin-binding phosphoprotein 50 (EBP50, also referred to as NHERF) through their PDZ motifs. Here, we show that ␤2 is the major adrenergic receptor isoform expressed in airway epithelia and that it colocalizes with CFTR at the apical membrane. ␤2AR stimulation increases CFTR activity, in airway epithelial cells, that is glybenclamide sensitive. Deletion of the PDZ motif from CFTR uncouples the channel from the receptor both physically and functionally. This uncoupling is specific to the ␤2AR receptor and does not affect CFTR coupling to other receptors (e.g., adenosine receptor pathway). Biochemical studies demonstrate the existence of a macromolecular complex involving CFTR-EBP50-␤ 2AR through PDZ-based interactions. Assembly of the complex is regulated by PKA-dependent phosphorylation. Deleting the regulatory domain of CFTR abolishes PKA regulation of complex assembly. This report summarizes a macromolecular signaling complex involving CFTR, the implications of which may be relevant to CFTR-dysfunction diseases.

Although the biosynthetic arrest of the DeltaF508 mutant of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) can be partially reversed by physical and chemical means, recent evidence suggests that the functional stability of the mutant protein after reaching the cell surface is compromised. To understand the molecular basis for this observation, the current study directly measured the half-life of Delta F508 and wild-type CFTR at the cell surface of transfected LLC-PK(1) cells. Plasma membrane CFTR expression over time was characterized biochemically and functionally in these polarized epithelial cells. Surface biotinylation, streptavidin extraction, and quantitative immunoblot analysis determined the biochemical half-life of plasma membrane DeltaF508 CFTR to be approximately 4 h, whereas the plasma membrane half-life of wild-type CFTR exceeded 48 h. This difference in biochemical stability correlated with CFTR-mediated transport function. These findings indicate that the Delta F508 mutation decreases the biochemical stability of CFTR at the cell surface. We conclude that the Delta F508 mutation triggers more rapid internalization of CFTR and/or its preferential sorting to a pathway of rapid degradation.

Detection of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein is usually a difficult task to accomplish due to the low levels of expression and high turnover that this membrane protein is submitted to in the cell. Common biochemical methods can be used for the detection of CFTR but several critical points must be taken into account. The scope of this article is to outline biochemical methods commonly used to assess CFTR expression, processing and membrane localization.