Aquaporin 7 (AQP-7) belongs to a family of membrane proteins that allow passage of water and certain other solutes through biological membranes. The family is composed of 13 members (AQP-0 to AQP-12). Little is known about the function of the two newest members, AQP-11 and AQP-12.The aquaporins can be divided into two functional groups based on their permeability characteristics: the aquaporins that are only permeated by water and the aquaglyceroporins that are permeated by water and other small solutes such as glycerol. This last group includes AQP-7, AQP-3, AQP-9 and AQP-10
