Aquaporins are a family of small integral membrane proteins related to the major intrinsic protein (MIP or AQP0). This gene encodes an aquaporin which functions as a molecular water channel protein. It is a homotetramer with 6 bilayer spanning domains and N-glycosylation sites. The protein physically resembles channel proteins and is abundant in erythrocytes and renal tubes. The gene encoding this aquaporin is a possible candidate for disorders involving imbalance in ocular fluid movement. Several transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq]