InterPro domain: IPR045069

The integral membrane proteins from the MATE family are involved in exporting metabolites across the cell membrane and are responsible for multidrug resistance (MDR) in many bacteria and animals. MATE has also been identified as a large multigene family in plants, where the proteins are linked to disease resistance. A number of family members are involved in the synthesis of peptidoglycan components in bacteria [ 1 , 2 ].This subfamily, which is restricted to eukaryotes, contains vertebrate solute transporters responsible for secretion of cationic drugs across the brush border membranes, yeast proteins located in the vacuole membrane, and plant proteins involved in disease resistance and iron homeostatis under osmotic stress [ 3 , 4 , 5 ].

1. The multidrug/oligosaccharidyl-lipid/polysaccharide (MOP) exporter superfamily. Eur. J. Biochem. 270, 799-813
2. Structure of a cation-bound multidrug and toxic compound extrusion transporter. Nature 467, 991-4
3. Importance of the multidrug and toxin extrusion MATE/SLC47A family to pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics/toxicodynamics and pharmacogenomics. Br J Pharmacol 164, 1817-25
4. Improvement of S-adenosylmethionine production by integration of the ethionine-resistance gene into chromosomes of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 42, 730-3