Zellbiologie: Forschung & Therapie

Are channels fundamentally different from transporters? Evaluating CFTR as a specific example

Reihaneh Balali* , Fatemeh Sadat Fatemian and Shahriar Gharibzadeh

In this article, we want to show whether there are differences between channels and transporters and whether the channel and the transporter may be assumed to be in the same category. Certain proteins, such as Cystic Membrane Transduction Regulator (CFTR), seem to challenge our understanding of the concept of channel and transporter. Studies have shown that the concentration of chlorine outside the cell is normally higher, but due to the operation of channels, especially ENaC, the concentration of chlorine inside the cell increases and in order to continue these processes, it must be transferred outside the cell. We finally conclude that CFTR may be a transporter.