PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE ED - , TI - Chloride channel: Tail Wagging the Channel AID - 10.1126/stke.1999.4.tw5 DP - 1999 Oct 19 TA - Science's STKE PG - tw5--tw5 VI - 1999 IP - 4 4099 - http://stke.sciencemag.org/content/1999/4/tw5.short 4100 - http://stke.sciencemag.org/content/1999/4/tw5.full SO - Sci. STKE1999 Oct 19; 1999 AB - Improper function of the chloride channel known as the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) is associated with debilitating diseases in humans. Conductance of the channel is regulated in a complex manner. One mechanism of regulation requires phosphorylation of the channel in the so-called regulatory or R domain, which relieves an inhibitory effect of this domain on channel function. Naren et al. now provide evidence that another region, the amino-terminal tail of the channel, also has critical regulatory effects. The amino-terminal tail appears to promote phosphorylation-induced conductance of the channel through interaction with the R domain. The results present a new potential target for drug development aimed at modification of CFTR channel activity. Naren, A.P., Cormet-Boyaka, E., Fu, J.,Villain, M., Blalock, J.E., Quick, M.W., and Kirk, K.L. (1999) CFTR chloride channel regulation by an interdomain interaction. Science 286: 544-548. [Abstract] [Full Text]