What is the Origin of Aquaporin Function?

The term aquaporin combines the Latin root aqua, meaning water, with the suffix porin, referring to a pore or channel structure. These integral membrane proteins were first definitively identified and characterized in the early 1990s, clarifying a long-standing question in physiology about rapid water movement. Their discovery revolutionized the understanding of water homeostasis and cellular transport dynamics in human physiology.

What is the Mechanism of Aquaporin Function?

Aquaporins form a highly selective, hourglass-shaped pore that permits water molecules to pass through in single file via osmosis, excluding ions and other solutes. This transport is passive, driven solely by the osmotic gradient across the cell membrane. Hormones like Vasopressin (Anti-diuretic Hormone) regulate this function by controlling the insertion and removal of specific aquaporin types, such as AQP2, in the renal collecting ducts, thereby modulating water reabsorption and urine concentration.

Aquaporin Function ∞ Area

Aquaporin Function

Meaning

The primary biological role of aquaporins, which are channel proteins in the cell membrane that facilitate the rapid transport of water across the membrane. This function is vital for maintaining cellular fluid balance and is particularly critical in organs like the kidneys and in processes regulated by hormones such as vasopressin. Understanding aquaporin activity is essential for grasping how the body manages systemic hydration and osmotic equilibrium.