Protein pump

Protein pump
– a kind of protein that is capable of pumping out compounds that could pose a threat to the cell. An example is AcrB, a bacterial protein complex that repels a wide range of antibiotics through its ability to capture and pump out a spectrum of structurally diverse compounds. Another example is p-glycoprotein, a versative pump found in the lining of human gut that prevents absorption of saquinavir, one of the new generation of anti-HIV drugs.