Deciphering Arabidopsis Aquaporin Networks: Comparative Analysis of the STRING and BioGRID Interactomes

Aquaporins are transmembrane proteins that mediate the transport of water, as well as various ions and molecules. In plants, they play a critical role in numerous processes, including stress adaptation, nutrition, cellular communication, and transpiration. Therefore, understanding the function and interactions of these proteins with others—known as interactomes—is of significant agronomic and biological interest. This study aims to analyse the interactome of all aquaporins in Arabidopsis thaliana L. using two distinct databases, STRING and BioGRID. After analysing both interactomes, a wide range of interactions were identified between each aquaporin and a diverse array of proteins, including nutrient transporters for ammonium, potassium, phosphorus, sulphur, copper, and sugars; proteins related to responses to abiotic stresses; proteins mediating vesicle membrane fusion, such as synaptobrevins and syntaxins; ubiquitinases; kinases; and other transmembrane proteins. These extensive connections further underscore the critical importance of aquaporins in numerous biological processes, positioning them as central modulators and integration points for cellular and systemic responses in plants.