The aquaporins They are protein found in the biological membranes, crossing them and allowing the passage of small solutes and water Thank you to your pores. These substances therefore act by way of channel.
Each aquaporin has a pore and it presents transmembrane vessels that enter and leave the membrane. Between these vessels the pore in question is formed. It is important to mention that in each membrane there are four aquaporin pores, thereby establishing tetramers.
There are different families of aquaporins. Some are located in membranes external, while others are found on the internal membranes. At a general level, it can be said that aquaporin is a small protein.
It is interesting to note that all of the organisms of the various biological kingdoms have aquaporins. Scientists believe that there is likely a common ancestor among all these proteins.
Transportation of Water and solutes made by aquaporins is regulated according to different cellular signals. The structure of the protein, in this framework, is modified to alternate between a closed and an open state that allows, or not, the passage of the elements. You can also change the amount of protein on the membrane to control transfers.
It should be noted that Americans Peter Agre Y Roderick mackinnon jointly received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry on 2003 for your findings in this countryside. Specifically, to Agre was distinguished by his discovery of aquaporins, while MacKinnon won the award for his studies on the mechanism and structure of potassium channels.
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