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What are aquaporins?

Updated: 6/11/2024
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βˆ™ 15y ago

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Aquaporins: channels that transport water.

Ion channels: channels that selectively transport certain ions.

Carrier proteins: Transmembrane proteins (that have a hydrophilic and hydrophobic part, so they can cross the cellular membrane) that transport other molecules.

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βˆ™ 11y ago
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βˆ™ 6mo ago

Aquaporins are a type of protein that act as water channels in cell membranes, allowing for the rapid movement of water molecules across the membrane. They play a crucial role in regulating water balance, hydration, and osmotic pressure within cells.

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βˆ™ 13y ago

Aquaporins are protein molecules embedded in the phospholipid bilayer of some cells. They transport water across the cell membrane.

A certain amount of water can cross the phospholipid bilayer of the membrane, but aquaporins considerably increase the rate of passage of water.

One type of cell in which aquaporins are found is in the epithelium of the human kidney, in the distal and collecting tubules. The antidiuretic hormone (ADH) stimulates epithelial cells to incorporate aquaporins into their membranes, increasing the uptake of water from the tubule into the cells, and therefore increasing the reabsorption of water into the body.

Aquaporins are also important in plant cells, facilitating the symplastic movement of water through the plant, i.e. the movement of water from cell to cell via cytoplasm.

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Water is the most essential molecule of life. Because of water's physical properties, living organisms depend on it to survive. Water's neutral pH and polarity make it a universal solvent for many of the solutes that life depends on, such as essential ions, and sugars that supply energy. Although living organisms are largely dependant on water to survive, water is not readily accessible to all parts of organisms. Due to the nonpolar region of cell membranes, water may have difficulty passing through those membranes to dissolve the essential nutrients needed for life's processes. Fortunately, cell membranes come equipped with proteins called aquaporins that help water pass through cell membranes and help organisms carry out life's processes.

Cell membranes are largely made up of a group of lipids called phospholipids. Phospholipids consist of a polar (hydrophilic) "head" group where the phosphate group is located and two nonpolar (hydrophobic) fatty acid "tail" groups. The fatty acid tails are typically made up of long hydrocarbon chains. Due to this ampipathic nature of phospholipids, the head groups align themselves with other head groups and the tail groups align themselves with other tail groups. This provides the most energetically favorable orientation. In most cell membranes, there are two layers of phospholipids. The head groups are orientated in the inside and outside of the membrane, leaving the tail groups to form a "core" within the membrane. Because of this hydrophobic core, simple diffusion of water molecules through the membrane can be difficult

Because of the difficulty of simple diffusion of water molecules across cell membranes, a group of proteins, called aquaporins, aid in the movement of water across membranes. Aquaporins consist of a series of six alpha helices from the same polypeptide chain. These alpha helices gather around to form the shape of a tunnel that goes through the membrane. This tunnel does not allow all substances to pass through; just water. This is because of a cluster of amino acids inside the tunnel called the ar/R (aromatic/arginine) filter. These amino acids select for water by binding to the individual molecules and excluding anything else, especially ions that may disturb the osmosis of the cell. These amino acids are often found in

the narrowest part of the tunnel, which allows them to select individual water molecules to bind with the positively charged argenine amino acids.

A gating mechanism of aquaporins is also discovered in plant cells. The gating of aquaporins is necessary to keep cells hydrated during periods of drought. The mechanism in some aquaporins involves the dephosphorylation of certain serine residues, causing the protein to change shape. This change in shape causes the tunnel of the protein to close and not allow any water to pass through.

Aquaporins are necessary for water transport in plants, but they can also be found in human cells. Although most of the aquaporins discovered in humans were found in the kidneys, the existence of more of these proteins is expected. Aquaporins can be used to treat some human medical disorders, such as brain edema after stroke and dry eye syndrome. One of the causes of brain edema is by the swelling of damage tissue in the brain after a stroke. The swelling can be a result of an excess accumulation of water in the intracellular or extracellular spaces of the brain. Dry eye syndrome can be caused by the inability of the lacrimal gland to produce the tears needed to aid in eye lubrication. Further study of aquaporins may help scientists discover ways to increase or decrease the flow of water through the protein and help treat these disorders.

this article can be found at http://www.helium.com/items/1989645-what-are-aquaporins?page=2

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βˆ™ 15y ago

Aquaporins are proteins embedded in the cell membrane that regulate the flow of water.

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What substance is transported by aquaporins?

Water is the primary substance transported by aquaporins, which are specialized membrane proteins responsible for facilitating the passage of water molecules across cell membranes. Aquaporins play a crucial role in maintaining water balance in cells and tissues.


What role do aquaporins play in osmosis?

Aquaporins are specialized proteins that facilitate the movement of water molecules across cell membranes. In the context of osmosis, aquaporins help maintain the balance of water inside and outside of the cell by allowing water to move in and out of the cell freely, promoting osmotic equilibrium. This process is essential for maintaining proper cell hydration and homeostasis.


What is the role of aquaporins in a cell membrane?

Aquaporins are protein channels that allow for the passage of water molecules across cell membranes. They play a crucial role in regulating water balance and maintaining cell hydration levels in various organisms. Aquaporins are essential for processes such as osmoregulation, water transport, and nutrient uptake in cells.


DOES Aquaporins HELP IN OSMOSIS?

Yes, aquaporins are specialized channels in the cell membrane that facilitate the movement of water molecules through osmosis. These channels help regulate water balance and maintain cell hydration levels in response to changing environmental conditions.


Does transporting aquaporins proteins require ATP?

No, transporting aquaporin proteins does not require ATP. Aquaporins facilitate the movement of water across cell membranes through passive transport processes, such as osmosis or simple diffusion according to the concentration gradient. ATP is typically not needed for passive transport.

Related questions

What channel proteins allow water to pass across the membrane?

Aquaporins


What is helped by aquaporins?

osmosis


What channels does water cross plasma membranes?

Aquaporins.


What substance is transported by aquaporins?

Water is the primary substance transported by aquaporins, which are specialized membrane proteins responsible for facilitating the passage of water molecules across cell membranes. Aquaporins play a crucial role in maintaining water balance in cells and tissues.


How do aquaporins work?

Aquaporins are specialized proteins that facilitate the movement of water molecules across cell membranes. They form channels for water to pass through while preventing the passage of ions and other molecules. Aquaporins play a crucial role in maintaining the water balance within cells and tissues.


Water may move through membrane pores constructed by transmembrane proteins called?

Water may move through membrane pores constructed by transmembrane proteins called aquaporins. These proteins facilitate the transport of water molecules across cell membranes, allowing water to move in and out of cells rapidly and efficiently.


How does water reabsorption in kidneys occur?

by osmosis through tubular aquaporins


What are membrane proteins that create a passageway across cell membranes?

Aquaporins


What role do aquaporins play in osmosis?

Aquaporins are specialized proteins that facilitate the movement of water molecules across cell membranes. In the context of osmosis, aquaporins help maintain the balance of water inside and outside of the cell by allowing water to move in and out of the cell freely, promoting osmotic equilibrium. This process is essential for maintaining proper cell hydration and homeostasis.


Why does water pass quickly through cell?

it moves through aquaporins in the membrane.


What is aquaporins?

Aquaporins are protein molecules embedded in the phospholipid bilayer (cell membrane ) of some cells. They transport water across the cell membrane.


What is the role of aquaporins in a cell membrane?

Aquaporins are protein channels that allow for the passage of water molecules across cell membranes. They play a crucial role in regulating water balance and maintaining cell hydration levels in various organisms. Aquaporins are essential for processes such as osmoregulation, water transport, and nutrient uptake in cells.