Human ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter family

Abstract

There exist four fundamentally different classes of membrane-bound transport proteins: ion channels; transporters; aquaporins; and ATP-powered pumps. ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are an example of ATP-dependent pumps. ABC transporters are ubiquitous membrane-bound proteins, present in all prokaryotes, as well as plants, fungi, yeast and animals. These pumps can move substrates in (influx) or out (efflux) of cells. In mammals, ABC transporters are expressed predominantly in the liver, intestine, blood-brain barrier, blood-testis barrier, placenta and kidney. ABC proteins transport a number of endogenous substrates, including inorganic anions, metal ions, peptides, amino acids, sugars and a large number of hydrophobic compounds and metabolites across the plasma membrane, and also across intracellular membranes. The human genome contains 49 ABC genes, arranged in eight subfamilies and named via divergent evolution. That ABC genes are important is underscored by the fact that mutations in at least I I of these genes are already known to cause severe inherited diseases (eg cystic fibrosis and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy [X-ALD]). ABC transporters also participate in the movement of most drugs and their metabolites across cell surface and cellular organelle membranes; thus, defects in these genes can be important in terms of cancer therapy, pharmacokinetics and innumerable pharmacogenetic disorders.

Introduction

Membrane transport proteins can be divided into four types: ion channels; transporters; aquaporins; and ATP-powered pumps http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?rid=mcb.figgrp.4031. Genes from all four categories are ancient -- with members present in most, if not all, prokaryotes, as well as in virtually all cell types of all eukaryotes. Transporters in eukaryotic cells move ions, sugars, amino acids and other molecules across all cellular and organelle membranes (cell surface, mitochondrial, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and other vesicles) -- with the possible exception of nuclear membranes (which have pores). The portion of the cell exposed to the lumen is called the apical surface; the rest of the cell (ie sides and base) makes up the basolateral surface. Movement of ions or other molecules into the cell is called influx; movement of ions or other molecules out of the cell is termed efflux.

Membrane transport proteins can be either passive or active. Passive transporters (also called uni-porters or facilitative transporters) transport substrates down a concentration gradient. By contrast, active transporters (or cotransporters) couple the movement of one type of ion or molecule against its concentration gradient, to the movement of another ion or molecule down its concentration gradient. Like ATP pumps, cotransporters mediate coupled reactions in which an energetically unfavourable reaction is coupled to an energetically favourable reaction. When the transported molecule and cotransported ion move in the same direction across a membrane, the transporter is called a symporter; when they move in opposite directions, the transporter is called an antiporter (or exchanger). If the intracellular net charge following transport becomes more negative, the process is termed electronegative; if the intracellular net charge becomes more positive, the process is called electropositive; if the resulting intracellular net charge remains unchanged, the process is termed electroneutral.

Ion channels are pore-forming membrane proteins that help to establish and maintain small-voltage gradients across plasma membrane surfaces of all living cells. As such, they regulate the cell's electric potential by allowing the flow of ions down their electrochemical gradient. Ion channels usually occur in the closed state. Cationic and anionic substrates are transferred down their electrochemical gradients at extremely high efficiencies (as much as 10⁸ sec^-1). More than 400 genes are known to encode ion channel subunits [1].

Transporters facilitate the movement of a specific substrate -- either with or against its concentration gradient -- and the conformational change in the transporter protein is important in this transfer process. Transporters move molecules at only about 10²-10⁴ sec^-1, a rate much slower than that associated with channel proteins. Many of these transporters belong to the solute-carrier (SLC) gene superfamily, and include passive transporters, sym-porters and antiporters, as well as mitochondrial and vesicular transporters. The SLC superfamily comprises 55 gene families, having at least 362 putatively functional protein-coding genes [2].

Aquaporins are a unique class of transporter. These proteins are bi-directional membrane channels which transport water, but they are not ion channels because the H₂O is transported as an uncharged molecule and not as an ion. The driving force for aquaporins is the presence of osmotic gradients across membranes [3]. There are 13 putatively functional AQP genes in the human genome http://www.genenames.org/.

ATP-powered pumps include the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) pumps. These pumps use energy released by ATP hydrolysis to move substrates across membranes in or out of cells or into cellular vesicles, against their electrochemical gradient. ABC pumps constitute a large, diverse and ubiquitous superfamily. Most ABC genes encode membrane-bound proteins that participate directly in the transport of a wide range of molecules across membranes [4]. ABC transporters can broadly be categorised as importers or exporters, depending on the direction of transport relative to the cytoplasm [5]. Plants carry a particularly large complement of ABC proteins; these pumps are associated with the need to establish steep concentration gradients of solutes across cellular membranes, as well as metabolic versatility. Plant ABC pumps are not only involved in the transport of hormones, lipids, secondary metabolites, metals and xenobiotics [4], but also contribute to osmolality and ion channel and phytoalexin functions (plant-pathogen interactions). Even the evolution of seed size in the tomato has been associated with an ABC transporter gene [6].

Details of the ABC proteins

By definition, ABC proteins possess an ATP binding cassette, also known as the 'nucleotide-binding domain' (NBD). The NBD contains several highly conserved motifs, including the Walker A and Walker B sequences, the ABC signature motif, the H loop and the Q loop. ABC transporters also contain trans-membrane domains (TMDs), each of which comprises several hydrophobic α-helices. The ABC transporter core unit consists of four domains, two NBDs and two TMDs. The two NBDs together bind and hydrolyse ATP (thereby providing the driving force for transport), while the TMDs participate in substrate recognition and translocation across the lipid membrane [4]. Some ABC genes encode proteins that are 'half-transporters' (meaning that two subunits bind as homodimers or a heterodimer), whereas others are 'full-transporters'.

The human ABC gene family

The human genome carries 49 ABC genes, arranged in seven subfamilies, designated A to G (Figure 1 and Table 1). This diverse transporter family has members that play pivotal roles in many cellular processes. For example, ABC transporters are responsible for the multidrug resistance of cancer cells [7]. ABC proteins also transport a number of substrates, including metal ions, peptides, amino acids, sugars and a large number of hydrophobic compounds and metabolites across the plasma membrane, and also intracellular membranes. The function of each ABC gene product, when known, is listed in the far right column of Table 2. At the present time, 21 ABC pseudogenes have been identified [8] and localised to chromosomal regions (Table 3).

Figure 1.

Clustering dendrogram of the human ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter genes. The root 'ABC' is omitted from the figure to simplify it. Thus, the correct gene name for 'Bl' is ABCBI, for 'B4' is ABCB4, and so forth.

Table 1.

Human ABC gene subfamilies

Subfamily name	Aliases	Number of genes	Number of pseudogenes
ABCA	ABC1	12	5
ABCB	MDR	11	4
ABCC	MRP	13	2
ABCD	ALD	4	4
ABCE	OABP	1	2
ABCF	GGN20	3	2
ABCG	White	5	2
Total		49	21

Table 2.

Human ABC transporter genes, and their functions, as listed in the HGNC database

Gene	Chromosome location	Exons	AA	Accession number	Function
ABCA1	9q3l.l	36	2261	NM005502	Cholesterol efflux onto HDL
ABCA2	9q34	27	2436	NM001606	Drug resistance
ABCA3	16pl3.3	26	1704	NM001089	Multidrug resistance
ABCA4	1p22	38	2273	NM000350	N-retinylidene-phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) efflux
ABCA5	17q24.3	31	1642	NM018672	Urinary diagnostic marker for prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN)
ABCA6	17q24.3	35	1617	NM080284	Multidrug resistance
ABCA7	19p13.3	31	2146	NM019112	Cholesterol efflux
ABCA8	17q24	31	1581	NM007168	Transports certain lipophilic drugs
ABCA9	17q24.2	31	1624	NM080283	Might play a role in monocyte differentiation and macrophage lipid homeostasis
ABCA10	l7q24	27	1543	NM080282	Cholesterol-responsive gene
ABCA12	2q34	37	2595	NM173076	Has implications for prenatal diagnosis
ABCA13	7p12.3	36	5058	NM152701	Inherited disorder affecting the pancreas
ABCB1	7q21.1	20	1280	NM000927	Multidrug resistance
ABCB2 (TAPI)	6p21.3	11	808	NM000593	Peptide transport
ABCB3 (TAP2)	6p21.3	11	703	NM000544	Peptide transport
ABCB4	7q21.1	25	1279	NM000443	Phosphatidylcholine (PC) transport
ABCB5	7p15.3	17	812	NM178559	Melanogenesis
ABCB6	2q36	19	842	NM005689	Iron transport
ABCB7	Xq12-q13	14	753	NM004299	Fe/S cluster transport
ABCB8	7q36	15	718	NM007188	Intracellular peptide trafficking across membranes
ABCB9	12q24	12	766	NM019625	Located in lysosomes
ABCB10	1q42.13	13	738	NM012089	Export of peptides derived from proteolysis of inner-membrane proteins
ABCB11	2q24	26	1321	NM003742	Bile salt transport
ABCC1	16p13.1	31	1531	NM004996	Drug resistance
ABCC2	10q24	26	1545	NM000392	Organic anion efflux
ABCC3	17q22	19	1527	NM003786	Drug resistance
ABCC4	13q32	19	1325	NM005845	Nucleoside transport
ABCC5	3q27	25	1437	NM005688	Nucleoside transport
ABCC6	16p13.1	28	1503	NM001171	Expressed primarily in liver and kidney
ABCC7 (CFTR)	7q31.2	23	1480	NM000492	Chloride ion channel (same as CFTR gene in cystic fibrosis)
ABCC8	11p15.1	30	1581	NM000352	Sulfonylurea receptor
ABCC9	12p12.1	32	1549	NM005691	Encodes the regulatory SUR2A subunit of the cardiac K+(ATP) channel
ABCC10	6p21.1	19	1464	NM033450	Multidrug resistance
ABCC11	16q12.1	25	1382	NM033151	Drug resistance in breast cancer
ABCC12	16q12.1	25	1359	NM033226	Multidrug resistance
ABCC13	21q11.2	6	325	NM00387	Encodes a polypeptide of unknown function
ABCD1	Xq28	9	745	NM000033	Very-long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) transport
ABCD2	12q11-q12	10	740	NM005164	Major modifier locus for clinical diversity in X-linked ALD (X-ALD)
ABCD3	1p22-p21	16	659	NM002858	Involved in import of fatty acids and/or fatty acyl-coenzyme As into the peroxisome
ABCD4	14q24	19	606	NM005050	May modify the ALD phenotype
ABCE1	4q31	14	599	NM002940	Oligoadenylate-binding protein
ABCF1	6p21.33	19	845	NM001025091	Susceptibility to autoimmune pancreatitis
ABCF2	7q36	14	634	NM005692	Tumour suppression at metastatic sites and in endocrine pathway for breast cancer/drug resistance
ABCF3	3q27.1	21	709	NM018358	Also present in promastigotes (one of five forms in the life cycle of trypanosomes)
ABCG1	21q22.3	13	678	NM004915	Cholesterol transport
ABCG2	4q22	16	655	NM004827	Toxicant efflux, drug resistance
ABCG4	q23.3	15	646	NM022 69	Found in macrophage, eye, brain and spleen
ABCG5	2p2	11	65	NM022436	Sterol transport
ABCG8	2p2	10	673	NM022437	Sterol transport

Abbreviations: HGNC, HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee; AA, number of amino acids; HDL, high density lipoprotein; CFTR, cysticfibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator gene; ATP adenosine triphosphate; ALD, adrenoleukodystrophy.

Table 3.

Human ABC transporter pseudogenes (adapted and modified from Piehler et al. [8])

Parental gene	Pseudogene	Chromosomal location	Accession number
ABCA3	ABCA17P	16p13.3	DQ266102
ABCA10	ABCA10P	4p16.3	AK024359
Abca14*	ABCA14P1	16p12.2
Abca15*	ABCA15P1	16p12.2	DR731461
	ABCA15P2	16p12.1
ABCB4	ABCB4P	4q32.1
ABCB10	ABCB10P1	15q11.2
	ABCB10P2	15q13.1
	ABCB10P3	15q13.1
ABCC6	ABCC6P1	16p12.3	DB11925
	ABCC6P2	16p13.11
ABCD1	ABCD1P1	2p11.1	AY344117
	ABCDIP2	10p11.1
	ABCDIP3	16p11.2
	ABCDIP4	22q11.1
ABCE1	ABCE1P1	Iq31.2
	ABCEIP2	7p15.3
ABCF2	ABCF2P1	3p11.2
	ABCF2P2	7q11.2
ABCG2	ABCG2P1	14q24.3
	ABCG2P2	15q23

*Abca14, Abca15 and Abca16 are mouse genes, with no human orthologues [9]. The mouse genome contains 52 Abc genes, whereas the human genome carries 49 ABC genes.

Mutations in at least 11 ABC genes to date are clearly associated with inherited diseases:[10] Tangier disease T1 (ABCA1); Stargardt disease, retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration (ABCA4); progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (ABCB11); Dubin-Johnson syndrome (ABCC2); pseudoxanthoma elasticum (ABCC6); cystic fibrosis (ABCC7); X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) (ABCD1 and ABCD2); some forms of Zellweger syndrome (ABCD3 and ABCD2) and sitosterolaemia (a rare lipid metabolic disorder inherited as an auto-somal recessive trait) (ABDG5 and ABCG8). An additional eight ABC genes have been implicated in, or are candidates for, other metabolic inherited diseases http://nutrigene.4t.com:0/humanabc.htm.

Clans: Comments on sequence identity

The ABC family is a member of the P-loop-containing nucleoside-triphosphate hydrolase clan (CL0023). The definition of the clan in the Pfam database is: 'A collection of evolutionarily-related Pfam entries. This relationship may be defined by similarity of protein sequence, tertiary structure or profile, as defined by the Hidden Markov model' [11,12]. At the moment, clan CL0023 contains 55 protein families, including the ABC family.

Subfamily A of the ABC family (ABCA)

Subfamily A contains 12 genes, most of which appear to be involved in lipid trafficking in many diverse organs and cell types. Among the largest of the ABC transporters, some of the ABCA proteins weigh in at more than 2,100 amino acids in length [10]. In fact, the predicted ABCA13 protein contains 5,058 residues, making it the largest ABC protein known. Mutations in specific ABCA genes lead to genetic disorders [13], such as Tangier disease T1, familial high-density lipoprotein (HDL) deficiency, Stargardt disease-1, age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa (Table 2).

Subfamily B of the ABC family (ABCB)

This subfamily of 11 genes is unique to mammals; there are four full-transporters and seven half-transporters. Several of the B family members are known to confer multidrug resistance in cancer cells; hence, subfamily B has also been called the 'MDR family of ABC transporters' [10]. Mutations in ABCB genes have been implicated in ankylosing spondylitis, diabetes type 2, coeliac disease, lethal neonatal syndrome, X-linked sideroblastic anaemia with ataxia, and several cholestatic liver diseases of infancy (Table 2). Many of these genotype-phenotype association studies suggesting the involvement of ABCB genes, however, are likely to represent false-positive, inconclusive or under-powered studies, and need further replication in other large cohorts before they can be regarded as 'informative' and conclusive [14].

Recent genome-wide searches for positive selection in the human genome have suggested the possibility that the metabolism and transport of foreign chemicals (foodstuffs, plant metabolites and drugs) might have undergone natural selection [15-17]. In this regard, the 230-kilobase (kb) cluster of four cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) functional genes and two pseudogenes, located at chromosome 7, is only 119 kb distant from the ABCB1 gene (the transcript of which spans 210 kb). Moreover, the CYP3A enzymes and ABCB1 transporter appear to have very similar substrate profiles, and both are regulated by the pregnane × receptor (PXR) in the liver, intestine, lung and kidney [18]. In addition, positive selection has recently been noted in the ligand-binding domain of PXR [19], lending further credence to the possible co-evolution of these two nearby loci, in response to dietary pressures. Future investigators should look carefully for similar patterns of possible co-evolution by other drug-metabolising genes and drug-transporter genes.

Subfamily C of the ABC family (ABCC)

Subfamily C includes the cystic fibrosis gene (CFTR, also called ABCC7) plus 12 other genes that encode transporters associated with multidrug resistance. The diverse activities of ABCC transporters include ion-channel and toxin excretion activity and reception on the cell surface; toxin excretion involves various fungal and bacterial toxins [10]. Mutations in one or more of the ABCC genes have been implicated in multidrug resistance, Dubin-Johnson syndrome, congenital bilateral aplasia of the vas deferens, diabetes type 2 and paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis -- as well as autosomal recessive diseases such as cystic fibrosis, pseudoxanthoma elasticum and hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia of infancy (Table 2).

The CFTR encodes a unique ABC transporter protein. Recent data suggest that CFTR channel activity evolved by converting the conformational changes associated with ATP binding and hydrolysis (found in 'true' ABC pumps) into an open permeation pathway, by means of intra-protein interactions that stabilise the open state [20]. The 'selective pressure' in the environment that might have encouraged this unique CFTR protein to evolve to exhibit this characteristic has been suggested to be severe infection -- that is, cholera epidemics [21].

Subfamily D of the ABC family (ABCD)

Also known as the peroxisomal or ALD transporters, this subfamily contains four genes that encode half-transporters; these subunits form homodimers or heterodimers to make a functional unit. These four human half-transporter genes code for at least 49 distinct proteins by means of 102 alternatively spliced transcripts [10]. Mutations in ADBD genes are known to cause ALD and Zellweger syndrome (Table 2).

Subfamily E of the ABC family (ABCE)

ABCE1 is the single member in this family which is an organic anion-binding protein (its trivial name is OABP), sometimes confused with the 11 SLCO genes that encode solute-carrier organic anion transporters [2]. ABCE1 has an ATP-binding domain but lacks the transmembrane domain, making it unlikely that this protein functions as a transporter. Because of 15 alternatively spliced transcripts, the ABCE1 gene encodes five distinct proteins [10]. ABCE1 has been found to block the activity of ribonuclease L. Activation of ribonuclease L leads to inhibition of protein synthesis in a pivotal pathway involving viral interferon action; hence, ABCE1 functions to promote interferon activity.

Subfamily F of the ABC family (ABCF)

Along with ABCE1, ABCF members also have ATP-binding domains, but no transmembrane domains, making transporter function unlikely. Due to alternatively spliced products, the three ABCF genes encode 26 distinct proteins [10]. Because the ABCF genes appear to be upregulated by tumour necrosis factor-α, it is believed that members of this subfamily might play a role in inflammatory processes. No diseases have been associated, so far, with either the ABCE or ABCF genes (Table 2).

Subfamily G of the ABC family (ABCG)

Subfamily G comprises at least five genes that encode 'reverse half-transporters', meaning that they form the second half of a heterodimer. Mutations in ABCG genes have been implicated in sterol accumulation disorders and atherosclerosis (Table 2). Due to alternative splicing, at least 18 distinct subunit proteins have been identified as products of the five ABCG genes [10]. ABCG1 is involved in cholesterol efflux in macrophages and may regulate cellular lipid homeostasis in other cell types as well. ABCG2 functions in multidrug resistance transport; steroids (cholesterol, oestradiol, progesterone and testosterone) and certain chlorophyll metabolites, as well as organic anions, are transported by ABCG2. ABCG3 is expressed at high levels in the thymus and spleen, suggesting a possible potential role in the transport of specific peptides or hydrophobic compounds from lymphocytes. ABCG5 and ABCG8 both appear to limit intestinal absorption and promote biliary excretion of sterols; their expression is localised primarily in the liver, colon and intestine. Mutations in either of these two genes lead to sitosterolaemia. This is characterised by hyperabsorption plus decreased biliary excretion of dietary sterols, leading to hypercholesterolaemia, tendon and tuberous xanthomata, early-age onset of atherosclerosis, and abnormal blood and liver function test results.

Evolution of the ABC transporter family

Clearly, the ancestral ABC gene first appeared in unicellular organisms and is therefore ancient, being now present in eubacteria, archaebacteria, plants, fungi, yeast and all animals. The nomenclature of the ABC gene family is the same as that developed for more than 150 other gene families and superfamilies in the human and rodent genomes http://www.genenames.org/. All of these nomenclature systems followed the original example described for the CYP genes. The CYP genes were conveniently arranged into families and subfamilies based on percentage amino acid sequence identity [22-27]. Enzymes that share ~40 per cent or higher identity are assigned to a particular family (designated by an Arabic numeral). Protein sequences sharing ~55 per cent or higher identity are grouped into a particular subfamily (designated by a letter). Enzymes that share greater than ~70 per cent amino acid identity are then named as members within that subfamily (and given Arabic numbers, usually in the sequence in which they were discovered).

For example, sterol 27-hydroxylase and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D₃ 1 α-hydroxylase are both assigned to the CYP27 family because they share >40 per cent sequence identity. Because their protein sequences are < 55 per cent identical, however, sterol 27-hydroxylase is assigned to the CYP27 'A' subfamily and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D₃ 1 α-hydroxylase to the 'B' subfamily. If another enzyme were to be discovered that shared > 55 per cent identity with sterol 27-hydroxylase, it would be named CYP27A2. Another enzyme was discovered that shared < 55 per cent but > 40 per cent identity with sterol 27-hydroxylase, as well as with the 25-hydroxy-vitamin D₃ 1 α-hydroxylase, and therefore it was named CYP27C1. The development and application of this pleasingly logical system of nomenclature to the genes of many animals, plants and bacteria http://drnelson.utmem.edu/CytochromeP450.html has eliminated the confusion that often has plagued the naming of gene families and superfamilies. Subsequently, this 'divergent evolution' nomenclature system has been adopted for the ABC gene family, among many others. The human subfamilies and members within each subfamily can be seen (Figure 1) to have diverged over evolutionary time. The nomenclature for both the human ABC gene family and the CYP gene superfamily has been approved by the HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee (HGNC; http://www.genenames.org).

Conclusions

The family of ABC pumps, along with the super-family of SLC proteins summarised in the last issue of Human Genomics [2], are among the most important large classes of transporters that move inorganic ions, metals, peptides, steroids, nucleosides, sugars and many other small molecules across the cell's surface membrane, as well as organelle membranes within cells. The ABC gene family of transporters comprises 49 and 52 genes (in eight subfamilies) in the human and mouse genomes, respectively; the nomenclature of these genes is based strictly on divergent evolution. The SLC gene superfamily is composed of 362 genes in 55 families in the human genome; the nomenclature of those genes is based largely on biochemical function, rather than divergent evolution from a common ancestor [2].

The ABC transporters are critically important in innumerable physiological functions, underscored by the fact that defects in more than a dozen of these genes have been associated with severe inherited disorders of metabolism -- cystic fibrosis being among the most prominent diseases, caused by mutations in the CFTR gene. The ABC transporters are also of great clinical importance in the transport of cancer chemotherapeutics, numerous other drugs and metabolites, and many chemicals present in foodstuffs. ABC transporters are therefore likely targets for drug therapy. A large number of new studies focused on the ABC transporter genes are anticipated.

Acknowledgements

We thank our colleagues, especially Lei He, for valuable discussions and a careful reading of this manuscript. The writing of this paper was funded, in part, by NIH grants R01 EY11490 (V.V.) and P30 ES06096 (D.W.N.).