The V510D suppressor mutation stabilizes DeltaF508-CFTR at the cell surface

Deletion of Phe508 (DeltaF508) in the first nucleotide-binding domain (NBD1) of CFTR causes cystic fibrosis. The mutation severely reduces the stability and folding of the protein by disrupting interactions between NBD1 and the second transmembrane domain (TMD2). We found that replacement of Val510 with acidic residues (but not neutral or positive residues) promoted maturation of DeltaF508-CFTR with V510D more efficiently than V510E. Promotion of DeltaF508-CFTR maturation did not require NBD2 as introduction of V510D into a DeltaNBD2/DeltaF508-CFTR mutant restored maturation to levels similar to that of full-length protein. The V510D mutation increased the half-life of mature DeltaF508-CFTR at the cell surface by about 5-fold to resemble the half-life of wild-type CFTR. It was also observed that introduction of the V510R/R1070D mutations into DeltaF508-CFTR also promoted maturation whereas the V510D/R1070A mutations did not. We propose that the V510D mutation in NBD1 promotes maturation and stabilizes DeltaF508-CFTR at the cell surface through formation of a salt bridge with Arg1070 in TMD2.