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ABC-transporters: implications on drug resistance from microorganisms to human cancers

Hermann Lage1

  • 1Institute of Pathology, Humboldt-University Berlin, Charité Campus Mitte, Schumannstrasse 20/21, D-10117 Berlin, Germany. hermann.lage@charite.de

International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents
|September 19, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major challenge in treating infections and cancer. Understanding ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Multidrug resistance (MDR) poses a significant clinical challenge in both infectious diseases and cancer treatment.
  • Drug targets in microorganisms and cancer cells often exhibit refractoriness to structurally diverse drugs.
  • This phenomenon, known as multidrug resistance (MDR), is frequently mediated by transmembrane xenobiotic transport proteins.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the structure-function relationships of ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters involved in MDR.
  • To understand the transport mechanisms and drug selectivity of these efflux pumps.
  • To explore the potential for rational drug design targeting MDR transport molecules.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of functional and structural similarities of ABC-transporters.
  • Review of existing knowledge on prokaryotic and eukaryotic ABC-transporter systems.
  • Examination of the impact of ABC-transporter mechanisms on MDR.

Main Results:

  • Identified common functional and structural features among ABC-transporters across different cell types.
  • Highlighted the critical role of ABC transporters in mediating MDR.
  • Discussed the implications of transporter mechanisms for drug resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding ABC-transporter structure-function is crucial for combating MDR.
  • Knowledge of these efflux pumps can guide the development of novel chemosensitizing agents.
  • Further research into ABC transporters will advance our understanding of drug resistance and cellular transport.

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