CFTR-SLC26 transporter interactions in epithelia

Transport mechanisms that mediate the movements of anions must be coordinated tightly in order to respond appropriately to physiological stimuli. This process is of paramount importance in the function of diverse epithelial tissues of the body, such as, for example, the exocrine pancreatic duct and the airway epithelia. Disruption of any of the finely tuned components underlying the transport of anions such as Cl(-), HCO(3) (-), SCN(-), and I(-) may contribute to a plethora of disease conditions. In many anion-secreting epithelia, the interactions between the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and solute carrier family 26 (SLC26) transporters determine the final exit of anions across the apical membrane and into the luminal compartment. The molecular identification of CFTR and many SLC26 members has enabled the acquisition of progressively more detailed structural information about these transport molecules. Studies employing a vast array of increasingly sophisticated approaches have culminated in a current working model which places these key players within an interactive complex, thereby setting the stage for future work.