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3D structure of the transporter ABCG2—What's new?
Author(s) -
Eckenstaler Robert,
Benndorf Ralf A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/bph.14991
Subject(s) - abcg2 , transporter , efflux , computational biology , atp binding cassette transporter , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , gene
ABCG2 belongs to the ABC transporter superfamily and functions as a poly‐specific efflux pump. As it can transport a broad spectrum of substrates out of cells, ABCG2 is thought to alter the pharmacokinetics of drugs applied to treat certain diseases. Especially, its potential to induce resistance to chemotherapy is currently the object of intense research. To foster understanding of mechanisms relevant for substrate recognition and selection of ABCG2 substrates and to finally develop selective therapeutic modulators (e.g. inhibitors) of ABCG2 transport activity, it is important to further explore the precise 3D structure of the transporter. While efforts to elucidate the three‐dimensional structure of ABCG2 using X‐ray crystal structure analysis have not been successful so far, high‐resolution cryo‐electron microscopy‐based investigations have revealed exciting new insights into the structure and function of the transporter. In this review, we will focus on these seminal publications to summarize the current understanding of tertiary and quaternary structure, homodimerization or oligomerization, and functions of the ABCG2 transporter protein.