title: [Water channel family proteins].
abstract: 17 members of MIP family from bacteria, yeast, plants and animals are compared in this review. These proteins appear to function in (1) water channels (CHIP, WCH-CD, MIWC, AQP3, gTIP, RD28, TobRB7), (2) neurogenesis (Bib), (3) small-molecule-permeating channels (MIP, AQP3, NOD, Glpf), (4) unknown function (WCH-3, AtRB7, Pea R7A, FPS1). However, the biological functions are not well established. The most conserved residues in the first and the second halves of all MIP family proteins are asparagine-proline-alanine (NPA) sequences in the loops (NPA boxes). This structural similarity may lead to functional similarity (water and/or small molecule permeation). This signature sequence for the MIP family will facilitate the identification of new protein members of this family.
authors.affiliation: Renal Unit, Oome General Hospital.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ishibashi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D007473:Ion Channels; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010940:Plant Proteins