Efflux pump

Efflux pump

An efflux pump is a protein-based biological mechanism used by cells to expel unwanted substances from within their intracellular environment.

Pronunciation

Efflux pump: /ˈɛflʌks pʌmp/

Etymology

The term "efflux" originates from the Latin word "effluere", which means "to flow out". The term "pump" is derived from the Middle Dutch word "pompe", referring to a water conduit.

Function

Efflux pumps are primarily used by bacteria and other microorganisms to resist antibiotics by pumping them out of the cell. This mechanism is a major contributor to the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.

Types

There are several types of efflux pumps, including:

• ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters
• Major Facilitator Superfamily (MFS) transporters
• Resistance-Nodulation-Division (RND) superfamily transporters
• Small Multidrug Resistance (SMR) family transporters
• Multidrug and Toxic compound Extrusion (MATE) family transporters

Related Terms

• Antibiotic resistance
• Bacteria
• Cell
• Protein
• Substance

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