The vertebrate-specific Kinesin-6, Kif20b, is required for normal cytokinesis of polarized cortical stem cells and cerebral cortex size.

ABSTRACT: Mammalian neuroepithelial stem cells divide using a polarized form of cytokinesis, which is not well understood. The cytokinetic furrow cleaves the cell by ingressing from basal to apical, forming the midbody at the apical membrane. The midbody mediates abscission by recruiting many factors, including the Kinesin-6 family member Kif20b. In developing embryos, Kif20b mRNA is most highly expressed in neural stem/progenitor cells. A loss-of-function mutant in Kif20b, magoo, was found in a forward genetic screen. magoo has a small cerebral cortex, with reduced production of progenitors and neurons, but preserved layering. In contrast to other microcephalic mouse mutants, mitosis and cleavage furrows of cortical stem cells appear normal in magoo. However, apical midbodies show changes in number

SUBMITTER: Janisch KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3833427 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature