Novel dendritic kinesin sorting identified by different process targeting of two related kinesins: KIF21A and KIF21B.

ABSTRACT: Neurons use kinesin and dynein microtubule-dependent motor proteins to transport essential cellular components along axonal and dendritic microtubules. In a search for new kinesin-like proteins, we identified two neuronally enriched mouse kinesins that provide insight into a unique intracellular kinesin targeting mechanism in neurons. KIF21A and KIF21B share colinear amino acid similarity to each other, but not to any previously identified kinesins outside of the motor domain. Each protein also contains a domain of seven WD-40 repeats, which may be involved in binding to cargoes. Despite the amino acid sequence similarity between KIF21A and KIF21B, these proteins localize differently to dendrites and axons. KIF21A protein is localized throughout neurons, while KIF21B protein is highly enri

SUBMITTER: Marszalek JR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2185086 | biostudies-literature | 1999 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature