Kinesin superfamily motor proteins and intracellular transport.

Full Abstract

Intracellular transport is fundamental for cellular function, survival and morphogenesis. Kinesin superfamily proteins (also known as KIFs) are important molecular motors that directionally transport various cargos, including membranous organelles, protein complexes and mRNAs. The mechanisms by which different kinesins recognize and bind to specific cargos, as well as how kinesins unload cargo and determine the direction of transport, have now been identified. Furthermore, recent molecular genetic experiments have uncovered important and unexpected roles for kinesins in the regulation of such physiological processes as higher brain function, tumour suppression and developmental patterning. These findings open exciting new areas of kinesin research.

Author information

Author/s: Hirokawa, Nobutaka (N); Noda, Yasuko (Y); Tanaka, Yosuke (Y); Niwa, Shinsuke (S);

Affiliation: Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Tokyo, Japan. hirokawa(-atsign-)m.u-tokyo.ac.jp

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Nature reviews. Molecular cell biology (Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Oct; vol 10 (issue 10) : pp 682-96

Dates: Created 2009/09/23; Completed 2009/10/01;

PMID: 19773780, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/1/2009, IMS Date: )

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