Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR)

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is an ABC transporter-class protein and ion channel that transports chloride ions across epithelial cell membranes. Mutations of the CFTR gene affect functioning of the chloride ion channels in these cell membranes, leading to cystic fibrosis and congenital absence of the vas deferens.

The gene that encodes for CFTR is found on the human chromosome 7, on the long arm at position q31.2. It contains about 170,000 base pairs. The encoded CFTR is a glycoprotein with 1480 amino acids. The protein consists of five domains. There are two transmembrane domains, each with six spans of alpha helices. These are each connected to a nucleotide binding domain (NBD) in the cytoplasm.