Question

You are a pharmaceutical researcher trying to design a new drug for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. You are aware that an extracellular protein that is a chloride ion transporter is misfolded and never gets to the cell surface. You have a new undergraduate working with you. Explain which organelle is involved in this process and why the transporter protein is nonfunctional.

Answer 1

Endoplasmic reticulum is the defective organelle in most CF.

Step-by-step explanation:

This is because of mutation(deletion) in the proteins of these organelle. The CFTR protein -a transmembrane regulator get stucked inside the E.R, thus the CFTR chloride protein channel is blocked. Therefore the outflow of Cl and water out of the cell is obstructed.

Consequently, the mucus from blocked fluid flow, clogs the lungs, the fallopian tube, sweat duct, and other places.