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Aquaporins

Aquaporins

Aquaporins or AQPs are a family of integral membrane proteins whose primary function is to transport water, while some called aquaglyceroporins also transport glycerol. In addition, aquaporins have also been suspected to be involved in transporting volatile substances, such as carbon dioxide and ammonia, across membranes. Such AQPs that act as gas channels are often highly expressed in cells involved in the gaseous exchange, such as red blood cells, epithelial cells, and pulmonary capillaries.

Reabsorption and Secretion in the DCT and Collecting Duct

Reabsorption and Secretion in the DCT and Collecting Duct

The early phase of the DCT manages the reabsorption of approximately 10-15% of filtered water, 5–10% of filtered sodium, and 5–10% of filtered chloride. This process is facilitated by Na+–Cl− symporters in apical membranes and sodium-potassium pumps, as well as Cl− leakage channels in basolateral membranes. The early DCT also stands out as a site where parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulates calcium reabsorption, depending on the body's requirements.
The distal...

Pore Transport and Ion-Pair Transport

Pore Transport and Ion-Pair Transport

Pore transport and ion-pair formation are critical mechanisms for the absorption and distribution of drugs in the body.
Pore transport, also known as convective transport, is a process where small molecules like urea, water, and sugars rapidly cross cell membranes as though there were channels or pores in the membrane. Although direct microscopic evidence is limited but the concept of pores or channels is widely accepted based on physiological evidence. Despite the lack of direct...

Formation of Dilute Urine

Formation of Dilute Urine

The formation of dilute urine is a critical renal adaptation that maintains fluid balance, particularly during periods of high fluid intake. This process primarily involves the juxtamedullary nephrons. By adjusting the permeability of water and ions in response to physiological conditions, the kidneys can either conserve or excrete water, resulting in concentrated or dilute urine.
Filtrate Osmolarity in the PCT
Initially, as the filtrate passes through the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT), its...

Ion Channels

Ion Channels

The movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium into and out of the cell is essential to maintain the electrochemical gradient in living cells. The ion channels—a class of membrane transport proteins—help maintain this ionic gradient for the smooth functioning of physiological activities such as maintaining cell size and volume, conducting nerve impulses, and gas and nutrient exchange.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow...

Membrane Proteins

Membrane Proteins

Plasma membranes have integral transmembrane proteins involved in facilitated transport. These proteins are collectively referred to as transport proteins, and they function as either channels for the material or as carriers themselves. Channel proteins have hydrophilic domains exposed to the intracellular and extracellular fluids and a hydrophilic channel through their core that provides a hydrated opening for solutes to pass through the membrane layers. Passage through the channel allows...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 17, 2025

Measuring the Osmotic Water Permeability Coefficient Pf of Spherical Cells: Isolated Plant Protoplasts as an Example

Measuring the Osmotic Water Permeability Coefficient Pf of Spherical Cells: Isolated Plant Protoplasts as an Example

Published on: October 8, 2014

Adaptable and Multifunctional Ion-Conducting Aquaporins.

Stephen D Tyerman¹, Samantha A McGaughey², Jiaen Qiu¹

¹Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia; email: steve.tyerman@adelaide.edu.au, Jiaen.Qiu@adelaide.edu.au.

Annual Review of Plant Biology

|February 12, 2021

Summary

Plant aquaporins are versatile channels. Research explores their roles in ion transport, potentially acting as crucial cation and anion channels, alongside water and gas transport, with complex regulatory mechanisms.

Keywords:

anion channel channel gating electroosmosis ion channel nonselective cation channel water pumping

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Last Updated: Nov 17, 2025

Measuring the Osmotic Water Permeability Coefficient Pf of Spherical Cells: Isolated Plant Protoplasts as an Example

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Published on: October 8, 2014

Culturing Primary Rat Inner Medullary Collecting Duct Cells

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Published on: June 21, 2013

Sample Preparation using a Lipid Monolayer Method for Electron Crystallographic Studies

Sample Preparation using a Lipid Monolayer Method for Electron Crystallographic Studies

Published on: November 20, 2021

Area of Science:

Plant Biology
Molecular Biology
Biophysics

Background:

Aquaporins are integral membrane proteins facilitating water and neutral solute transport.
Their roles extend to signaling, disease, and metabolic processes.
Plant aquaporins exhibit diverse functions, including potential ion transport roles.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate plant aquaporins as potential ion channels, comparing them to animal counterparts.
To explore the regulation and mechanisms of ion and water transport in plant aquaporins.
To understand the multifunctional nature of ion-transporting aquaporins.

Main Methods:

Comparative analysis of plant and animal aquaporin functions.
Investigating permeability across different molecular species (ions, water, gases).
Examining protein interactions and posttranslational modifications, such as phosphorylation, in regulating channel activity.

Main Results:

Plant aquaporins are candidates for unidentified cation and anion channels in various membranes.
Individual isoforms can transport ions, water, and gases with a wide range of permeability.
Phosphorylation-dependent regulation, exemplified by AtPIP2;1, suggests a switch between ion and water permeation.
Potential coupling between ion and water fluxes indicates electroosmotic transduction mechanisms.

Conclusions:

Plant aquaporins possess significant, yet often uncharacterized, roles in ion transport.
Their selectivity and function are tightly regulated by protein interactions and modifications.
Understanding the context-dependent, multifunctional roles of ion-transporting aquaporins remains a significant challenge.