ABC solute importers in bacteria

The bacterial ABC (ATP-binding cassette) importers mediate nutrient uptake and some are essential for survival in environments where nutrients are limited, such as in the human body. Although ABC importers exhibit remarkable versatility in the substrates that they can transport, they appear to share a similar multisubunit architecture and mechanism of energization by ATP hydrolysis. This chapter will provide both basic understanding and up-to-date information on the structure, mechanism and regulation of this important family of proteins.