Specialized stellate cells offer a privileged route for rapid water flux in Drosophila renal tubule

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1915943117
• Publication Date: 2020-01-07T01:27:18Z
• Authors: Pablo Cabrero; Selim Terhzaz; Anthony J. Dornan; Saurav Ghimire; Heather L. Holmes; Daniel R. Turin; Michael F. Romero; Shireen A. Davies; Julian A. T. Dow
• Keywords: Tubule; Malpighian tubule system; Renal tubule; Water Transport; Hepatic stellate cell

Significance The tiny insect renal (Malpighian) tubule can transport fluid at unparalleled speed, suggesting unique specializations. Here we show that strategic allocation of major intrinsic proteins (MIPs) to specific cells within the allows separation metabolically intense active cation from passive chloride and water conductance. This specialized architecture is general least many higher insects, providing a clue success class Insecta in colonizing an extraordinary range ecological niches.