ABC transporters. Lessons from a bacterial oligopeptide uptake system

ABC transporters are proteins that are involved in the uptake of nutrients and excretion of harmful substances in biological cells. Defects in human ABC transporters can result in severe diseases. Too high ABC transporter activity can lead to non-responsiveness of cancercells to chemotherapy, and resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. Every life-form, from the most simple bacterium to the highly complex human being, contains ABC transporters. In this thesis a bacterial ABC transporter was studied to learn more about how ABC transporters work in general. The subject of investigation, the oligopeptide ABC transporter, was purified from bacteria and studied using biochemical and biopysical techniques. In this way it was elucidated what kind of substances are taken up via the oligopeptide ABC transporter and how this protein works.