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The Escherichia coli aquaporin‐Z water channel
Author(s) -
Calamita Giuseppe
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2958.2000.02016.x
Subject(s) - biology , escherichia coli , water channel , aquaporin , channel (broadcasting) , aquaporin 1 , escherichia coli proteins , microbiology and biotechnology , computational biology , genetics , gene , computer science , computer network , engineering , mechanical engineering , inlet
The membrane pathway of the rapid fluxes of water by which microorganisms adapt promptly to abrupt changes in environmental osmolality have begun to be understood since the discovery of the Escherichia coli aquaporin‐Z water channel, AqpZ. As in animals and plants, aquaporins are variously represented among microorganisms, in which 31 homologous genes have already been identified in eubacteria, Archaea, fungi and protozoa. The AqpZ channel is selectively permeable to water, although other functions are not excluded. Consistent with a conservation over the course of evolution, AqpZ and AQP1, a human counterpart, share similar structures. The aqpZ gene is growth phase and osmotically regulated. AqpZ has a role in both the short‐ and the long‐term osmoregulatory response and is required by rapidly growing cells. AqpZ‐like proteins seem to be necessary for the virulence expressed by some pathogenic bacteria. Microbial aquaporins are also likely to be involved in spore formation and/or germination. Additional roles may still be unknown. The use of AqpZ as a model system will continue to provide insight into the understanding of the importance of aquaporins.