Prokaryotes, Eukaryotes, & Viruses Tutorial

Problem 4: Cystic fibrosis and membrane receptors

In some diseases like cystic fibrosis, a cell membrane receptor fails to function. In the majority of cases, the problem comes from a change in the receptor so that it cannot reach the cell surface. The site in the cell where membrane proteins are synthesized and assembled builds up with the abnormal protein. This site would likely be the:

C.	endoplasmic reticulum
	Correct. The site of synthesis and asembly of membrane proteins. The ER also seems to be able to detect proteins that cannot fold correctly. These accumulate and are degraded. For CF, 70% of the patients have a form of the disease where the receptor accumulates in the ER.