Aquaporin Z (AqpZ) was expressed as the fusion protein maltose-binding protein (MBP)–AqpZ–polyhistidine (HIS).
The MBP tag of MBP–AqpZ–HIS was removed by factor Xa.
AqpZ–HIS was purified using affinity chromatography.
The yield of functional AqpZ–HIS was 15–20 mg/l.