Scientific background: |
AQP3, Aquaporin 3, is the third member of the major intrinsic protein family from rat kidney. AQP3 is localized at the basal lateral membranes of collecting duct cells in the kidney. AQP3 appears to exist as a single copy and to comprise 6 exons distributed over 7 kb. The AQP3 gene is mapped to 9p21-p12 by fluorescence in situ hybridization. AQP3 works as water-channel. And it facilitates the transport of nonionic small solutes such as urea and glycerol, albeit to a smaller degree. The results suggested that water channels can be functionally heterogeneous and possess water and solute permeation mechanisms.By Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy of epidermis, Sougrat et al. (2002) showed strong expression of an approximately 33-kD glycosylated AQP3 protein in keratinocyte plasma membranes, 1 layer below the unstained stratum corneum (SC). AQP3provides a short circuit for water, or water-clamp, between the base of the epidermis and the SC in order to maintain a constant water content and to prevent the formation of a continuous water gradient across the epidermis below the SC. |
References: |
1. Ishibashi, K., Sasaki, S., Fushimi, K., Uchida, S., Kuwahara, M., Saito, H., Furukawa, T., Nakajima, K., Yamaguchi, Y., Gojobori, T., Marumo, F.Molecular cloning and expression of a member of the aquaporin family with permeability to glycerol and urea in addition to water expressed at the basolateral membrane of kidney collecting duct cells.Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 91: 6269-6273, 1994.
2. Mulders, S. M., Olde Weghuis, D., van Boxtel, J. A. F., Geurts van Kessel, A., Echevarria, M., van Os, C. H., Deen, P. M. T.Localization of the human gene for aquaporin 3 (AQP3) to chromosome 9, region p21-p12, using fluorescent in situ hybridization.Cytogenet. Cell Genet. 72: 303-305, 1996.
3. Sougrat, R., Morand, M., Gondran, C., Barre, P., Gobin, R., Bonte, F., Dumas, M., Verbavatz, J.-M.Functional expression of AQP3 in human skin epidermis and reconstructed epidermis.J. Invest. Derm. 118: 678-685, 2002.
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