Studies on Basic Charged Molecules and Cell Membranes in Cystic Fibrosis 1

Abstract

Summary

A recent hypothesis is that unknown positively charged molecules are involved in the pathophysiology of cystic fibrosis. ¹³¹I-albumin uptake by sarcoma 180 cells in culture, 1-4-¹⁴C-succinate oxidation by isolated mitochondria and ³⁵S-thiamine released by cultured fibroblasts are affected by poly-L-lysine, a positively charged polypeptide. CF saliva does not have this effect. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and acrylamide isoelectric focusing suggests that basic secretory proteins are normal in CF saliva. Conventional pancreatic replacement therapy does not affect basic charged secretory proteins as it does in experimental animals.