Reconstitution of water channel function and 2D-crystallization of human aquaporin 8

► Human AQP8 forms a separate subfamily distinct from the other mammalian AQPs. ► Functional human AQP8 is overexpressed in P. pastoris at 2 mg/mL per liter of culture. ► Optimal solubilization is achieved with the detergent decyl maltoside. ► Removal of affinity tag yields highly ordered crystal arrays diffracting to 3 Å.