New aspects of plant aquaporin regulation and specificity

Abstract

Recent findings concerning the sensitivity of aquaporins to heavy metal ions and their possible consequences to plant physiology are discussed. Furthermore, results obtained from heterologous expression of plant aquaporin cRNAs in Xenopus oocytes are related to the situation in the plant. An assessment of the significance of water flux regulation by modification of the aquaporin protein or change of gene activity is given and new data concerning the selectivity of plasma membrane aquaporins are presented.