Kinesin family member 15 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the KIF15 gene.[1]
This gene encodes a motor protein that is part of the kinesin superfamily. KIF15 maintains half spindle separation by opposing forces generated by other motor proteins. KIF15 co-localizes with microtubules and actin filaments in both dividing cells and in postmitotic neurons.[1]
KIF15 (also known as Kinesin-12 and HKLP2) is a motor protein expressed in all cells during mitosis and in postmitotic neurons undergoing axon growth.[2] KIF15 maintains bipolar microtubule spindle apparatus in dividing cells and shares redundant functions with KIF11.[3] KIF15 is thought to promote spindle assembly by cross-linking and sliding along microtubules creating a separation between centrosomes. HeLa cells depleted of KIF11, with reduced microtubule dynamics, are able to form bipolar spindles from acentrosomal asters in a KIF15 dependent manner.[4][5] Hence, inhibition of KIF15 function will be a vital therapeutic approach in cancer chemotherapy[6].
Function in neurons
KIF15 restricts the movement of short microtubules into growing axons by generating forces on microtubules which counteract those generated by cytoplasmic dynein.[7][8] KIF15, together with KIF23 become enriched in dendrites as neurons mature to promote the transport of minus-end distal microtubules into nascent dendrites.[7]
Interactions
KIF15 has been shown to interact with TPX2. Both these dimers cooperate to slide along microtubules and maintain bipolar spindles.[9][10]
↑Buster DW, Baird DH, Yu W, Solowska JM, Chauvière M, Mazurek A, Kress M, Baas PW (January 2003). "Expression of the mitotic kinesin Kif15 in postmitotic neurons: implications for neuronal migration and development". J. Neurocytol. 32 (1): 79–96. doi:10.1023/a:1027332432740. PMID14618103.
↑Vanneste D, Takagi M, Imamoto N, Vernos I (November 2009). "The role of Hklp2 in the stabilization and maintenance of spindle bipolarity". Curr. Biol. 19 (20): 1712–7. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2009.09.019. PMID19818619.
Oh SA, Allen T, Kim GJ, Sidorova A, Borg M, Park SK, Twell D (October 2012). "Arabidopsis Fused kinase and the Kinesin-12 subfamily constitute a signalling module required for phragmoplast expansion". Plant J. 72 (2): 308–19. doi:10.1111/j.1365-313X.2012.05077.x. PMID22709276.
Müller S, Han S, Smith LG (May 2006). "Two kinesins are involved in the spatial control of cytokinesis in Arabidopsis thaliana". Curr. Biol. 16 (9): 888–94. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2006.03.034. PMID16682350.
