Gene ABCB1
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Also known as
ABC20, CD243, CLCS, GP170, MDR1, P-GP, PGY1, p-170Overview
The ABCB1 gene encodes the P-glycoprotein (P-gp), a transmembrane protein that pumps toxins and drugs out of cells. This protein is a member of the ABC transporter family, which uses the energy from ATP hydrolysis to transport a wide variety of substrates across cell membranes. P-gp is expressed in many tissues, including the blood-brain barrier, the gut, and the liver, and it plays an important role in limiting the absorption and distribution of drugs and xenobiotics in the body. Mutations in the ABCB1 gene have been associated with increased risk of drug resistance in cancer cells and with a variety of inherited disorders, such as the multidrug resistance phenotype.