Biophysical assessment of human aquaporin-7 as a water and glycerol channel in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

The plasma membrane aquaporin-7 (AQP7) has been shown to be expressed in adipose tissue and its role in glycerol release/uptake in adipocytes has been postulated and correlated with obesity onset. However, some studies have contradicted this view. Based on this situation, we have re-assessed the pre...

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Main Authors: Ana Madeira, Marta Camps, Antonio Zorzano, Teresa F Moura, Graça Soveral
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3869813?pdf=render
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author Ana Madeira
Marta Camps
Antonio Zorzano
Teresa F Moura
Graça Soveral
author_facet Ana Madeira
Marta Camps
Antonio Zorzano
Teresa F Moura
Graça Soveral
author_sort Ana Madeira
collection DOAJ
description The plasma membrane aquaporin-7 (AQP7) has been shown to be expressed in adipose tissue and its role in glycerol release/uptake in adipocytes has been postulated and correlated with obesity onset. However, some studies have contradicted this view. Based on this situation, we have re-assessed the precise localization of AQP7 in adipose tissue and analyzed its function as a water and/or glycerol channel in adipose cells. Fractionation of mice adipose tissue revealed that AQP7 is located in both adipose and stromal vascular fractions. Moreover, AQP7 was the only aquaglyceroporin expressed in adipose tissue and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. By overexpressing the human AQP7 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes it was possible to ascertain its role as a water and glycerol channel in a gain-of-function scenario. AQP7 expression had no effect in equilibrium cell volume but AQP7 loss of function correlated with higher triglyceride content. Furthermore it is also reported for the first time a negative correlation between water permeability and the cell non-osmotic volume supporting the observation that AQP7 depleted cells are more prone to lipid accumulation. Additionally, the strong positive correlation between the rates of water and glycerol transport highlights the role of AQP7 as both a water and a glycerol channel and reflects its expression levels in cells. In all, our results clearly document a direct involvement of AQP7 in water and glycerol transport, as well as in triglyceride content in adipocytes.
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spelling doaj.art-299046be080b4145be885c808f5fd2522022-12-21T22:39:11ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032013-01-01812e8344210.1371/journal.pone.0083442Biophysical assessment of human aquaporin-7 as a water and glycerol channel in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.Ana MadeiraMarta CampsAntonio ZorzanoTeresa F MouraGraça SoveralThe plasma membrane aquaporin-7 (AQP7) has been shown to be expressed in adipose tissue and its role in glycerol release/uptake in adipocytes has been postulated and correlated with obesity onset. However, some studies have contradicted this view. Based on this situation, we have re-assessed the precise localization of AQP7 in adipose tissue and analyzed its function as a water and/or glycerol channel in adipose cells. Fractionation of mice adipose tissue revealed that AQP7 is located in both adipose and stromal vascular fractions. Moreover, AQP7 was the only aquaglyceroporin expressed in adipose tissue and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. By overexpressing the human AQP7 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes it was possible to ascertain its role as a water and glycerol channel in a gain-of-function scenario. AQP7 expression had no effect in equilibrium cell volume but AQP7 loss of function correlated with higher triglyceride content. Furthermore it is also reported for the first time a negative correlation between water permeability and the cell non-osmotic volume supporting the observation that AQP7 depleted cells are more prone to lipid accumulation. Additionally, the strong positive correlation between the rates of water and glycerol transport highlights the role of AQP7 as both a water and a glycerol channel and reflects its expression levels in cells. In all, our results clearly document a direct involvement of AQP7 in water and glycerol transport, as well as in triglyceride content in adipocytes.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3869813?pdf=render
spellingShingle Ana Madeira
Marta Camps
Antonio Zorzano
Teresa F Moura
Graça Soveral
Biophysical assessment of human aquaporin-7 as a water and glycerol channel in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
PLoS ONE
title Biophysical assessment of human aquaporin-7 as a water and glycerol channel in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
title_full Biophysical assessment of human aquaporin-7 as a water and glycerol channel in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
title_fullStr Biophysical assessment of human aquaporin-7 as a water and glycerol channel in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
title_full_unstemmed Biophysical assessment of human aquaporin-7 as a water and glycerol channel in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
title_short Biophysical assessment of human aquaporin-7 as a water and glycerol channel in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.
title_sort biophysical assessment of human aquaporin 7 as a water and glycerol channel in 3t3 l1 adipocytes
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC3869813?pdf=render
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