Abstract：
Aquaporins (AQP) are a class of the integral membrane proteins. The main physiological function of AQPs is to facilitate the water transport across plasma membrane of cells. However, the transport of various kinds of small molecules by AQPs is an interesting topic. Studies using in vitro cell models have found that AQPs mediated transport of small molecules, including glycerol, urea, carbamides, polyols, purines, pyrimidines and monocarboxylates, and gases such as CO2, NO, NH3, H2O2 and O2, although the high intrinsic membrane permeabilities for these gases make aquaporin-facilitated transport not dominant in physiological mechanism. AQPs are also considered to transport silicon, antimonite, arsenite and some ions; however, most data about transport characteristics of AQPs are derived from in vitro experiments. The physiological significance of AQPs that are permeable to various small molecules is necessary to be determined by in vivo experiments. This chapter will provide information about the transport characteristics of AQPs.
摘要：
水通道蛋白（AQP）是一类完整的膜蛋白。AQPs的主要生理功能是促进水穿过细胞质膜的运输。然而,AQPs对各种小分子的转运是一个有趣的话题。利用体外细胞模型的研究发现,AQPs介导小分子的转运,包括甘油，尿素,尿素，多元醇嘌呤,嘧啶和单羧酸盐，和气体，如CO2，NO，NH3，H2O2和O2，尽管这些气体的高固有膜渗透性使水通道蛋白促进的运输在生理机制中不占主导地位。AQP也被认为是传输硅，锑酸盐,亚砷酸盐和一些离子；然而，大多数关于AQPs转运特性的数据来自体外实验。对各种小分子可渗透的AQP的生理意义必须通过体内实验来确定。本章将提供有关AQPs传输特性的信息。
