1sor
From Proteopedia
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Aquaporin-0 membrane junctions reveal the structure of a closed water pore
Overview
The lens-specific water pore aquaporin-0 (AQP0) is the only aquaporin, known to form membrane junctions in vivo. We show here that AQP0 from the, lens core, containing some carboxy-terminally cleaved AQP0, forms, double-layered crystals that recapitulate in vivo junctions. We present, the structure of the AQP0 membrane junction as determined by electron, crystallography. The junction is formed by three localized interactions, between AQP0 molecules in adjoining membranes, mainly mediated by proline, residues conserved in AQP0s from different species but not present in most, other aquaporins. Whereas all previously determined aquaporin structures, show the pore in an open conformation, the water pore is closed in AQP0, junctions. The water pathway in AQP0 also contains an additional pore, constriction, not seen in other known aquaporin structures, which may be, responsible for pore gating.
About this Structure
1SOR is a Single protein structure of sequence from Ovis aries. Full crystallographic information is available from OCA.
Reference
Aquaporin-0 membrane junctions reveal the structure of a closed water pore., Gonen T, Sliz P, Kistler J, Cheng Y, Walz T, Nature. 2004 May 13;429(6988):193-7. PMID:15141214
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