Rabbit polyclonal antibody to AQP0 (C144)

AQP0 is the most abundant endogenous protein in the plasma membrane of lens fiber cells where it functions not only as a water pore, but it is also involved in fiber~fiber adhesion and is crucial for fiber cell structure and organization. AQP0 contains an additional pore constriction, not seen in any other aquaporin structures, which may be responsible for pore gating. The closed AQP0 pore holds just three water molecules, which are spaced too far apart to form hydrogen bonds with each other. The C~terminal domain of AQP0 undergoes extensive post~translational modification, including many truncations, during lens aging due to the actions of m~calpain, proteases or non~enzymatic mechanisms. These truncation sites may be involved in the development of cataracts.