A MECHANISM FOR P-GLYCOPROTEIN ACTION IN MULTIDRUG-RESISTANCE - ARE WE THERE YET

Multidrug resistance is associated with the overexpression of P-glycop rotein, a membrane glycoprotein. The mechanism by which P-glycoprotein confers to cells the capacity to resist cytotoxic attack by structura lly unrelated drugs has remained difficult to decipher. However, the r ecent functional expression of this group of proteins in the membrane of secretory vesicles from yeast mutants has allowed the systematic an alysis of the parameters of drug transport by this protein. Proposed m echanisms of action of P-glycoprotein are discussed in this review by Stephan Ruetz and Philippe Gros.