Hopkins medical sleuths found that the absence of a certain protein interferes with the body's ability to regulate its water levels.Reported in the New England journal of medicine,it provides insight into how the kidney works.
The protein aquaporin-1has a definitive role in the normal functioning of the kidneys",says Landon King,lead author of the study.The study showed that individuals who have a deficiency of the protein have a limited ability to reabsorb water through their kidneys.The finding may help to develop treatments for diabetes insipidus,an ailment that inhibits reabsorption of water causing frequent urination and emaciation.Water makes up 70% of the human body, and while certain cells need to absorb water quickly, other cells are relatively impermeable to water.
About a decade ago, Peter Agre, a professor from Hopkins stumbled upon an unknown protein lodged in the plasma membrane of red blood cells and kidney tubules.After expressing the the proteins in frogs' eggs,they discovered that the eggs exploded when immeresed in water because they absorbed the the liquid much faster than normal.
