COMPLETE INVENTORY OF THE YEAST ABC PROTEINS

The complete sequence of the yeast genome predicts the existence of 29 proteins belonging to the ubiquitous ATP-binding cassette (ABC) super family. Using binary comparison, phylogenetic classification and detec tion of conserved amino acid residues, the yeast ABC proteins have bee n classified in a total of six clusters, including ten subclusters of distinct predicted topology and presumed distinct function. Study of t he yeast ABC proteins provides insight into the physiological function and biochemical mechanisms of their human homologues, such as those i nvolved in cystic fibrosis, adrenoleukodystrophy, Zellweger syndrome, multidrug resistance and the antiviral activity of interferons.