Cystic Fibrosis

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level of salt in lung cells draw water out of the mucus causing it to thicken.The level of salt in a cell is determained by the movement of ions across the cell membrane.Ions are carried across call memebranes by protein channels embedded in the cell membrane. Since the stucture and functions of proteins are determained by genes problems with ion transport can be assumed to have a genetic basis. In 1989 an American Canadian research team found thre defect in the gene called the transmembrane conductance regulator gene ,produces a protein that usually helps maintain normal levels of chloride. In about 60% of pateints the protein made by the CFTR gene is missing an amino acid called phenylalanine
.When this amino acid is missing the protein doesnt fold into its correct shape and loses its function. Researchers are not certain whether the defective protein is actually in tranport molecule. Some research data indicates that proteins might instead be involved in the regulatory network ...

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