**2. Results**

## *2.1. The Family of AQPs Encoded by the Apple Genome*

A set of 67 candidate apple AQPs were identified by a key word search of the NCBI protein database. Several of these were discarded on the basis that they were either likely duplicates or represented a truncated sequence. The sequences of previously identified apple AQPs were used as queries of the whole apple genome sequence to identify additional members. The outcome was the identification of 42 putativeAQPs (Table 1). The range in length of their products was 236–309 residues and in their molecular weight was 25.1–33.2 KDa. The pI (isoelectric point) value of the presumptive AQPs varied from 4.86 to 9.97. Twenty nine of the forty two apple AQPs included six transmembrane domains.


**Table 1.** The information of identified apple AQPs.


**Table 1.** *Cont.*

<sup>1</sup> Gene IDs with were based on Malus <sup>×</sup> domestica GDDH13 Whole Genome v1.1. <sup>2</sup> Gene IDs were based on Malus × domestica Whole Genome v1.0. (AQPs, aquaporins; MW, molecular weight; pI, isoelectric point; TMD, transmembrane domain; Loc, subcellular localization; Chlo, chloroplast; Plas, plasma membrane; Vacu, vacuolar membrane; E. R., endoplasmic reticulum).
