Drug Transporters

Abstract

Membrane transporters perform a central function in protecting the body from xenobiotics (either by preventing their absorption, limiting their distribution or promoting their elimination). Transporters can also take part in the traffic and compartmentalization of endogenous compounds. In some particular cases, they may favor drug absorption and/or distribution. Accordingly, they are of major importance from a pharmacological perspective. Transporter protein science is an emerging field, and their identification and characterization continue to evolve, with their medical and pharmaceutical impact being still far from being fully understood. In relation to drug kinetics, two gene families coding for polyspecific transporters are of particular importance: the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters and the solute carrier (SLC) transporters. Both will be discussed in this last chapter of this volume.