Aquaporin-5 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the AQP5 gene. Aquaporin 5 (AQP5) is a water channel protein. Aquaporins are a family of small integral membrane proteins related to the major intrinsic protein (MIP or AQP0). Aquaporin 5 plays a role in the generation of saliva, tears and pulmonary secretions. AQP0, AQP2, AQP5, and AQP6 are closely related and all map to 12q13.