Catalyzes the transport of the major hydrophobic bile salts, such as taurine and glycine-conjugated cholic acid across the canalicular membrane of hepatocytes in an ATP-dependent manner, therefore participates in hepatic bile acid homeostasis and consequently to lipid homeostasis through regulation of biliary lipid secretion in a bile salts dependent manner (PubMed:18985798). Transports taurine-conjugated bile salts more rapidly than glycine-conjugated bile salts. Also transports non-bile acid compounds, such as pravastatin and fexofenadine in an ATP-dependent manner and may be involved in their biliary excretion (By similarity). ATP + cholate(in) + H2O = ADP + cholate(out) + H(+) + phosphate ATP + H2O + taurocholate(in) = ADP + H(+) + phosphate + taurocholate(out) ATP + glycocholate(in) + H2O = ADP + glycocholate(out) + H(+) + phosphate ATP + glycochenodeoxycholate(in) + H2O = ADP + glycochenodeoxycholate(out) + H(+) + phosphate ATP + H2O + taurochenodeoxycholate(in) = ADP + H(+) + phosphate + taurochenodeoxycholate(out) ATP + glycoursodeoxycholate(in) + H2O = ADP + glycoursodeoxycholate(out) + H(+) + phosphate ATP + H2O + tauroursodeoxycholate(in) = ADP + H(+) + phosphate + tauroursodeoxycholate(out) ATP + H2O + taurodeoxycholate(in) = ADP + H(+) + phosphate + taurodeoxycholate(out) ATP + H2O + taurolithocholate 3-sulfate(in) = ADP + H(+) + phosphate + taurolithocholate 3-sulfate(out) ATP + H2O + pravastatin(in) = ADP + H(+) + phosphate + pravastatin(out) The uptake of taurocholate is inhibited by taurolithocholate sulfate with an IC(50) of 9 uM. Pravastatin competitively inhibits the transport of taurocholic acid (PubMed:18985798). Cyclosporin A, glibenclamide, rifampicin and troglitazonestrongly competitively inhibit the transport activity of taurocholate (PubMed:18985798). The canalicular transport activity of taurocholate is strongly dependent on canalicular membrane cholesterol content. The uptake of taurocholate is increased by short- and medium-chain fatty acids. Cholesterol increases transport capacity of taurocholate without affecting the affinity for the substrate (By similarity). Interacts with HAX1 (By similarity). Interacts with the adapter protein complex 2 (AP-2) throught AP2A2 or AP2A1; this interaction regulates cell membrane expression of ABCB11 through its internalization in a clathrin-dependent manner and its subsequent degradation (By similarity). Internalized at the canalicular membrane through interaction with the adapter protein complex 2 (AP-2). At steady state, localizes in the canalicular membrane but is also present in recycling endosomes. ABCB11 constantly and rapidly exchanges between the two sites through tubulo-vesicles carriers that move along microtubules. Microtubule-dependent trafficking of ABCB11 is enhanced by taurocholate and cAMP and regulated by STK11 through a PKA-mediated pathway. Trafficking of newly synthesized ABCB11 through endosomal compartment to the bile canalicular membrane is accelerated by cAMP but not by taurocholate (By similarity). Cell membrane expression is up-regulated by short- and medium-chain fatty acids (By similarity). Liver. N-glycosylated. Ubiquitinated; short-chain ubiquitination regulates cell-Surface expression of ABCB11. Belongs to the ABC transporter superfamily. ABCB family. Multidrug resistance exporter (TC 3.A.1.201) subfamily.