Türk Bilimsel Derlemeler Dergisi

Yazarlar: Filiz SANAL

Konular:-

Anahtar Kelimeler:Aquaporins (AQP),Cell membrane,Water channel,Water transfer.

Özet: Aquaporins (AQP) are integral membrane proteins that serve as channels in the transfer of water acrossthe membrane. Bacteria, plants and animals involve AQPs. Aquaporins are water channels that belong to themajor intrinsic proteins (MIP) family. MIPs play a major role in the regulation of membrane water permeability.Living organisms exhibit more than 450 MIPs and among them 13 AQP are vertebrata aquaporins (AQP 0 to 12).Mammalian aquaporins of two subgroups have been defi ned on the basis of their permeability characteristics.The aquaporins (AQP 0,1,2,4,5,6 and 8) are highly selective for water, whereas the aquaglyceroporins are alsosolutes (AQP9) in addition to water. In plant cells, aquaporins have been found in the plasma membrane andtonoplast. Thus, control of the water fl ux into and out of a cytosol or vacuole and changes in turgor or cell sizeare controlled. Aquaporins which are found in microorganisms enhance cellular tolerance against rapid freezing.Aquaporins are involved in many cellular and physiological processes and mutations in aquaporins have beenshown to trigger pathological conditions.

---