Encyclopedia of Signaling Molecules

2018 Edition
| Editors: Sangdun Choi

Aquaporin

  • Roderick Nigel FinnEmail author
  • Joan Cerdà
Reference work entry
First Online:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-67199-4_101692
How to cite

Synonyms

 AQP-CD, WCH-CD: aquaporin, water channel of the collecting duct;  AQP-CHIP;  CHIP28: Channel-forming integral protein, 28kD;  Integral membrane protein;  MIP: major intrinsic protein

Historical Background

Water transport across cell membranes is an essential requirement for the biochemistry of life, yet it took more than two centuries of observations and research before transmembrane water channels termed aquaporins were discovered. For much of this time, it was assumed that water transport occurred either via simple diffusion or in certain instances was powered by active processes. As early as the eighteenth century, it was noted that adult frogs and toads absorb water across their ventral skin when dehydrated and placed in water. A century and a quarter later, it was discovered that the increased absorption of water across the skin could be enhanced by the injection of neurohypophysial extract (pituitrin), which was known to have antidiuretic effects in mammals. These...

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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing AG 2018

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of Biology, Bergen High Technology CentreUniversity of BergenBergenNorway
  2. 2.Institute of Marine ResearchBergenNorway
  3. 3.Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA)Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain
  4. 4.Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA)-Institut de Ciéncies del MarConsejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)BarcelonaSpain