A predominant form of C-terminally end-cleaved AQP0 functions as an open water channel and an adhesion protein in AQP0 ^ΔC/ΔC mouse lens

The purpose of this investigation was to find out whether C-terminally end-cleaved aquaporin 0 (AQP0), that is present predominantly in the lens mature fiber cells of the WT, functions as a water channel and a cell-to-cell adhesion (CTCA) protein in a knockin (KI) mouse model (AQP0 ^ΔC/ΔC ) that does not express intact AQP0. A genetically engineered KI mouse model, AQP0 ^ΔC/ΔC , expressing only end-cleaved AQP0 was developed. This model expresses 1–246 amino acids of AQP0, instead of the full length 1–263 amino acids. Lens transparency of postnatal day 10 (P10) was analyzed qualitatively by dark field imaging. WT, AQP0 ^{+/ −} and AQP0 ^+/ΔC lenses were transparent; AQP0 ^−/− and AQP0 ^ΔC/ΔC mouse lenses displayed loss of transparency. Lens fiber cell membrane vesicles (FCMVs) were prepared from wild type (WT), AQP0 heterozygous (AQP0 ^{+/ −} ), AQP0 knockout (AQP0 ^−/− ), AQP0 ^+/ΔC and AQP0 ^ΔC/ΔC ; water permeability (P _f ) was measured using the osmotic shrinking method. CTCA assay was performed using adhesion-deficient L-cells and FCMVs prepared from the abovementioned genotypes. FCMVs of AQP0 ^{+/ −} and AQP0 ^−/− showed a statistically significant reduction (P < 0.001) in P _f and CTCA compared to those of WT. AQP0 ^+/ΔC and AQP0 ^ΔC/ΔC FCMVs exhibited no statistically significant alteration (P > 0.05) in P _f compared to those of WT. However, CTCA of AQP0 ^+/ΔC AQP0 ^ΔC/ΔC FCMVs was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that of WT FCMVs. Our experiments clearly show that C-terminally end-cleaved AQP0 can function both as a water channel and a CTCA molecule in the lens fiber cell membranes. Also, end-truncation plays an important role in increasing the CTCA between fiber cells.