The multidrug resistance P-glycoprotein

P-glycoprotein plays an important role in the resistance of cancers to chemotherapy. Thus, an understanding of the mechanism by which it functions, and its 'normal' physiological role, is of clinical relevance as well as intrinsic interest. Considerable progress towards this goal has been made in the last year or so. In addition, the finding that P-glycoprotein is associated with both a channel and a transporter activity has, potentially, far-reaching implications for an understanding of the nature of channels and transporters.