Anti-AQP3 antibodies are used in the immunodetection of the protein aquaporin 3 (Gill blood group). In humans, the canonical protein has a reported length of 292 amino acid residues and a mass of 31.5 kDa. Its subcellular localization is in the cell membrane. Up to 2 different isoforms have been reported for this protein. It is found to be widely expressed in epithelial cells of kidney (collecting ducts) and airways, in keratinocytes, immature dendritic cells and erythrocytes. A member of the MIP/aquaporin (TC 1.A.8) protein family, AQP3 is known to be a water channel required to promote glycerol permeability and water transport across cell membranes. Post-translational modifications have been described, including glycosylation.
The AQP3 marker can be used to identify CD4 Naïve Cells, CD8 Naïve Cells, Regulatory T Cells, Cortical Collecting Duct Principal Cells, and Connecting Tubule Principal Cells.* Synonyms for this target antigen include aquaporin-3, aquaglyceroporin-3, aquaporin 3 (GIL blood group), and GIL. AQP3 gene orthologs have been reported in the mouse, rat, bovine, frog, chimpanzee and chicken species.
*HuBMAP Human Reference Atlas v1.4