Yeast ABC transporters – A tale of sex, stress, drugs and aging

Yeast ATP-binding cassette (ABC) proteins are implicated in many biological phenomena, often acting at crossroads of vital cellular processes. Their functions encompass peptide pheromone secretion, regulation of mitochondrial function, vacuolar detoxification, as well as pleiotropic drug resistance and stress adaptation. Because yeast harbors several homologues of mammalian ABC proteins with medical importance, understanding their molecular mechanisms, substrate interaction and three-dimensional structure of yeast ABC proteins might help identifying new approaches aimed at combating drug resistance or other ABC-mediated diseases. This review provides a comprehensive discussion on the functions of the ABC protein family in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae.