Molecular mechanisms of water uptake and transport in plant roots: research progress with water channel aquaporins

Aquaporins (water channels) are membrane proteins which facilitate the transport of water and low molecular weight compounds across biological membranes. The author and collaborators identified barley aquaporins and investigated the level of transcripts in roots, water transport activity, tissue localization, expression reduction by salt stress, and diurnal changes in the expression of a particular aquaporin. Over-expression of a barley aquaporin, HvPIP2;1, increased the shoot/root ratio and raised salt sensitivity in transgenic rice plants. Aquaporin research is providing significant insights into the water relations of plant roots.