Mammalian aquaglyceroporin function in metabolism.

Abstract

Aquaglyceroporins are integral membrane proteins that are permeable to glycerol as well as water. The movement of glycerol from a tissue/organ to the plasma and vice versa requires the presence of different aquaglyceroporins that can regulate the entrance or the exit of glycerol across the plasma membrane. Actually, different aquaglyceroporins have been discovered in the adipose tissue, small intestine, liver, kidney, heart, skeletal muscle, endocrine pancreas and capillary endothelium, and their differential expression could be related to obesity and the type 2 diabetes. Here we describe the expression and function of different aquaglyceroporins in physiological condition and in obesity and type 2 diabetes, suggesting they are potential therapeutic targets for metabolic disorders.

• Authors: Umberto Laforenza, Cinzia Bottino, Giulia Gastaldi
• Journal: Biochimica et biophysica acta (Biochim Biophys Acta) Vol. 1858 Issue 1 Pg. 1-11 (Jan 2016) ISSN: 0006-3002 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 26456554 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Aquaglyceroporins
• Water
• Glycerol

Topics

• Adipose Tissue (metabolism)
• Animals
• Aquaglyceroporins (metabolism)
• Biological Transport, Active
• Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 (metabolism, pathology)
• Glycerol (metabolism)
• Humans
• Intestine, Small (metabolism)
• Kidney (metabolism)
• Liver (metabolism)
• Microvessels (metabolism)
• Muscle, Skeletal (metabolism)
• Myocardium (metabolism)
• Obesity (metabolism, pathology)
• Organ Specificity
• Pancreas (metabolism)
• Water (metabolism)