Knepper M A, Wade J B, Terris J, Ecelbarger C A, Marples D, Mandon B, Chou C L, Kishore B K, Nielsen S
Laboratory of Kidney and Electrolyte Metabolism, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Kidney Int. 1996 Jun;49(6):1712-7. doi: 10.1038/ki.1996.253.
Aquaporins (AQPs) are a newly recognized family of transmembrane proteins that function as molecular water channels. At least four aquaporins are expressed in the kidney where they mediate rapid water transport across water-permeable epithelia and play critical roles in urinary concentrating and diluting processes. AQP1 is constitutively expressed at extremely high levels in the proximal tubule and descending limb of Henle's loop. AQP2, -3 and -4 are expressed predominantly in the collecting duct system. AQP2 is the predominant water channel in the apical plasma membrane and AQP3 and -4 are found in the basolateral plasma membrane. Short-term regulation of collecting duct water permeability by vasopressin is largely a consequence of regulated trafficking of AQP2-containing vesicles to and from the apical plasma membrane.
水通道蛋白（AQPs）是新发现的一类跨膜蛋白家族，作为分子水通道发挥作用。肾脏中至少表达四种水通道蛋白，它们介导水快速穿过水通透上皮细胞，并在尿液浓缩和稀释过程中发挥关键作用。水通道蛋白1在近端小管和髓袢降支中持续高水平表达。水通道蛋白2、-3和-4主要在集合管系统中表达。水通道蛋白2是顶端质膜中的主要水通道，而水通道蛋白3和-4存在于基底外侧质膜中。血管升压素对集合管水通透性的短期调节主要是含水通道蛋白2的囊泡往返于顶端质膜的转运受调控的结果。
