Analysis of CFTR Trafficking and Polarization Using Green Fluorescent Protein and Confocal Microscopy

Expression of endogenous cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in many epithelial cells is either low or difficult to detect or below the limit of detection using currently available microscopic techniques (1 ,2 ). In addition, studies utilizing CFTR antibodies to detect CFTR frequently suffer from problems of antibody specificity (3 ). Use of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a molecular marker for CFTR localization may circumvent the problems of low CFTR expression and poor antigenicity and facilitate research of CFTR in epithelial cells.