Introduction to Bacterialabc Proteins

reviewed the classification of ABC proteins, including prokaryote representatives and their transport substrates in the many cases where these have been identified. Previous general reviews have also discussed the ABC proteins in Escherichia coli (Linton and Higgins, 1998), Bacillus subtilis (Quentin et al., 1999) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Braibant et al., 2000) and more specifically concerning bacterial ABC exporters in E. coli (Fath and Kolter, 1993; Young and Holland, 1999). The purpose of this introductory chapter is therefore briefly to highlight some of the major characteristics of bacterial ABC systems and the breadth of their functions.