“…Most ABC proteins are presumed to hydrolyze ATP in transporting solutes across the cell membrane as has been demonstrated for the periplasmic permeases (Hyde et al, 1990;Ames and Lecar, 1992). However, CFTR is a chloride channel which requires both PKAdependent phosphorylation to initiate activity and the continued presence of ATP for steady state channel gating (Anderson, Berger, Rich, Gregory, Smith, and Welsh, 1991;Nagel, Hwang, Nastiuk, Nairn, and Gadsby, 1992;Venglarik, Schultz, Frizzell, and Bridges, 1994; see reviews by Anderson, Sheppard, Berger, and Welsh, 1992;Collins, 1992). It has been suggested that CFTR hydrolyzes ATP as a necessary step in channel gating.…”