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From membrane to mineralization: the curious case of the ABCC6 transporter
Author(s) -
Verschuere Shana,
Van Gils Matthias,
Nollet Lukas,
Vanakker Olivier M.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1002/1873-3468.13981
Subject(s) - pseudoxanthoma elasticum , biology , genetics , medicine , pathology
ATP‐binding cassette subfamily C member 6 gene/protein (ABCC6) is an ATP‐dependent transmembrane transporter predominantly expressed in the liver and the kidney. ABCC6 first came to attention in human medicine when it was discovered in 2000 that mutations in its encoding gene, ABCC6 , caused the autosomal recessive multisystemic mineralization disease pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE). Since then, the physiological and pathological roles of ABCC6 have been the subject of intense research. In the last 20 years, significant findings have clarified ABCC6 structure as well as its physiological role in mineralization homeostasis in humans and animal models. Yet, several facets of ABCC6 biology remain currently incompletely understood, ranging from the precise nature of its substrate(s) to the increasingly complex molecular genetics. Nonetheless, advances in our understanding of pathophysiological mechanisms causing mineralization lead to several treatment options being suggested or already tested in pilot clinical trials for ABCC6 deficiency. This review highlights current knowledge of ABCC6 and the challenges ahead, particularly the attempts to translate basic science into clinical practice.