Unexpected complexity of the aquaporin gene family in the moss Physcomitrella patens.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Aquaporins, also called major intrinsic proteins (MIPs), constitute an ancient superfamily of channel proteins that facilitate the transport of water and small solutes across cell membranes. MIPs are found in almost all living organisms and are particularly abundant in plants where they form a divergent group of proteins able to transport a wide selection of substrates.

Results

Analyses of the whole genome of Physcomitrella patens resulted in the identification of 23 MIPs, belonging to seven different subfamilies, of which only five have been previously described. Of the newly discovered subfamilies one was only identified in P. patens (Hybrid Intrinsic Protein, HIP) whereas the other was found to be present in a wide variety of dicotyledonous plants and forms a m

SUBMITTER: Danielson JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2386804 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature