Abstract.
The ubiquitous major intrinsic protein (MIP) family includes several transmembrane channel proteins known to exhibit specificity for water and/or neutral solutes. We have identified 84 fully or partially sequenced members of this family, have multiply aligned over 50 representative, divergent, fully sequenced members, have used the resultant multiple alignment to derive current MIP family-specific signature sequences, and have constructed a phylogenetic tree. The tree reveals novel features relevant to the evolutionary history of this protein family. These features plus an evaluation of functional studies lead to the postulates: (i) that all current MIP family proteins derived from two divergent bacterial paralogues, one a glycerol facilitator, the other an aquaporin, and (ii) that most or all current members of the family have retained these or closely related physiological functions.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received: 19 April 1996/Revised: 3 June 1996
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Park, J., Saier, Jr., M. Phylogenetic Characterization of the MIP Family of Transmembrane Channel Proteins. J. Membrane Biol. 153, 171–180 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s002329900120
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s002329900120