Role, functional mechanism and structure of ABC (ATP-binding cassette) transporters

ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters constitute one of the largest famil ies of: proteins. These transporters are involved not only in the import or export of a wide variety of: susbtrates, but also in the regulation of man y cellular processes. ABC transporters were first discovered and studied in bacteria, but have now been reported in eukaryotes and humans, with a rema rkable conservation in,sequence and structural, organization. They share th e same structure in four domains: two hydrophobic domains comprising the su bstrate recognition site, and two conserved hydrohilic domains ::which bind and hydrolyze ATP, thus energizing transport. Several members of this grow ing family are involved in various human disorders. Here, we review the mos t prominent ABC transporters with a special focus on those involved in dise ases.