Aquaporins (AQPs) are a large family of integral membrane water transport channel proteins that facilitate the transport of water through the cell membrane. This function is conserved in animals, plants and bacteria. Many isoforms of Aquaporin have been identified in mammals, designated AQP0 through AQP10. Aquaporins are widely distributed and it is not uncommon for more than one type of AQP to be present in the same cell. Although most Aquaporins are only permeable to water, AQP3, AQP7, AQP9 and one of the two AQP10 transcripts are also permeable to urea and glycerol. AQP2 is the only water channel that is activated by vasopressin to enhance water reabsorption in the kidney collecting duct. Aquaporins are involved in renal water absorption, generation of pulmonary secretions, lacrimation and the secretion and reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid and aqueous humor. AQP1 is an integral membrane protein expressed in erythrocytes and renal tubule cells.
