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Fungal ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters in drug resistance & detoxification

György Sipos1, Karl Kuchler

  • 1Medical University Vienna, Max F. Perutz Laboratories, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Campus Vienna Biocenter, Dr. Bohr-Gasse 9/2, A-1030 Vienna, Austria.

Current Drug Targets
|April 14, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) in fungi is mediated by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters. Yeast models reveal conserved mechanisms for antifungal drug resistance in pathogens like Candida albicans.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) is a significant challenge in fungal infections.
  • Multidrug resistance (MDR) in mammalian cells shares similarities with fungal PDR.
  • ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are implicated in mediating PDR and MDR phenotypes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review drug resistance phenomena mediated by ABC transporters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and fungal pathogens.
  • To highlight the utility of yeast as a model organism for studying drug resistance.
  • To explore the role of ABC transporters in clinical antifungal resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on PDR and MDR.
  • Analysis of the role of ABC transporters in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
  • Discussion of functional studies using yeast models for cloning transporters from pathogens like Candida albicans.

Main Results:

  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses approximately 30 ABC genes, several mediating PDR.
  • Yeast lacking ABC pumps exhibit hypersensitivity to antifungal drugs.
  • ABC transporters are crucial for conferring resistance to a broad spectrum of compounds.

Conclusions:

  • Yeast serves as a valuable model for understanding conserved ABC transporter functions in drug resistance.
  • ABC transporters are key targets for developing strategies against fungal pathogens.
  • Further research into ABC transporter mechanisms can lead to novel antifungal therapies.

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