MECHANISTIC STUDY OF AQUAPORINS BEHAVIOR UNDER DIFFERENT MICROENVIRONMENTS

Abstract

Water is a valuable resource as a driver of life and economies. With water shortage being recognized as a global problem, alternative methods of water production are critical to support human activities. A recent development in the application of Aquaporins (AQPs) has revealed its tremendous potential in clean water production. However fabrication of optimally functioning Aquaporin-based membranes requires further understanding on the interactions between AQPs and the membrane matrix. As such this project is designed to provide biological understanding on the complex nature of AQPs-membrane interactions which is identified by correlating thermodynamics of AQPs to the measured water permeability. My results revealed the role of phospholipid membranes as allosteric regulators of AQPZ mediated water transport. By correlating the thermodynamic states of AQPZ and water permeability of AQPZ under many different membranes, my results revealed uncover potential to program water transport function of AQPZ by lipid composition-altered protein dynamics.