• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.257-265
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• 2021

Heterotrimeric kinesin-2 is a molecular motor protein of the kinesin superfamily (KIF) that moves along a microtubule plus-end directed motor protein. It consists of three different motor subunits (KIF3A, KIF3B, and KIF3C) and a kinesin-associated protein 3 (KAP3) that form a heterotrimeric complex. Heterotrimeric kinesin-2 interacts with many different binding proteins through the cargo-binding domain of the KIF3s. The activity of heterotrimeric kinesin-2 is regulated to ensure that the cargo is directed to the right place at the right time. How this regulation occurs, however, remains in question. To identify the regulatory proteins for heterotrimeric kinesin-2, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening and found a specific interaction with creatine kinase B (CKB), which is the brain isoform of cytosolic creatine kinase enzyme. CKB bound to the cargo-binding domain of KIF3A but did not interact with the KIF3B, KIF5B, or KAP3 in the yeast two-hybrid assay. The carboxyl (C)-terminal region of CKB is essential for the interaction with KIF3A. Another protein kinase, CaMKIIa, interacted with KIF3A, but GSK3a did not interact with KIF3A in the yeast two-hybrid assay. KIF3A interacted with GST-CKB-C but not with GSK-CKB-N or GST alone. When co-expressed in HEK-293T cells, CKB co-localized with KIF3A and co-immunoprecipitated with KIF3A and KIF3B but not KIF5B. These results suggest that the CKB-KIF3A interaction may regulate the cargo transport of heterotrimeric kinesin-2 under energy-compromised conditions in cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.12
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• pp.1608-1613
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• 2012

A conventional kinesin, KIF5/Kinesin-I, transports various cargoes along the microtubule through interaction between its light chain subunit and the cargoes. Kinesin light chains (KLCs) interact with many different cargoes using their tetratricopeptide repeat (TPR) domain, but the mechanism underlying recognition and binding of a specific cargo has not yet been completely elucidated. We used the yeast two-hybrid assay to identify proteins that interact with the TPR domain of KLC1. We found an interaction between the TPR domain of KLC1 and an amyloid precursor protein (APP)-binding protein PAT1 (protein interacting with APP tail 1). The yeast two-hybrid assay demonstrated that the TPR domain-containing region of KLC1 mediated binding to the C-terminal tail region of PAT1. PAT1 also bound to KLC2 but not to kinesin heavy chains (KIF5A, KIF5B, and KIF5C) in the yeast two-hybrid assay. These protein-protein interactions were also observed in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay and by co-immunoprecipitation. Anti-PAT1 antibody as well as anti-APP anti-body co-immunoprecipitated KLC and KHCs associated with PAT1 from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that PAT1 could mediate interactions between Kinesin-I and APP containing vesicles.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.369-375
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• 2019

Microtubules form through the polymerization of ${\alpha}-$ and ${\beta}-tubulin$, and tubulin transport plays an important role in defining the rate of microtubule growth inside cellular appendages, such as the cilia and flagella. Heterotrimeric kinesin 2 is a molecular motor member of the kinesin superfamily (KIF) that moves along the microtubules to transport multiple cargoes. It consists of two motor subunits (KIF3A and KIF3B) and a kinesin-associated protein 3 (KAP3), forming a heterotrimeric complex. Heterotrimeric kinesin 2 interacts with many different binding proteins through the cargo-binding domains of the KIF3s, but these binding proteins have not yet been specified. To identify these proteins for KIF3A, we performed yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening and found a specific interaction with ${\beta}2-tubulin$ (Tubb2), a microtubule component. Tubb2 was found to bind to the cargo-binding domain of KIF3A but did not interact with KIF3B, KIF5B, or kinesin light chain 1 in the Y2H assay. The carboxyl-terminal region of Tubb2 is essential for interaction with KIF3A. Other Tubb isoforms, including Tubb1, Tubb3, Tubb4, and Tubb5, also interacted with KIF3A in the Y2H screening. However, ${\alpha}1-tubulin$ (Tuba1) did not interact with KIF3A. In addition, an antibody to KIF3A specifically co-immunoprecipitated the KIF3B and KAP3 associated with Tubb2 from mouse brain extracts. In combination, these results suggest that a heterotrimeric kinesin 2 motor protein is capable of binding to tubulin and may transport it in cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.698-704
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• 2016

The intracellular transport of organelles and protein complexes is mediated by kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs). The first kinesin, kinesin 1, was identified as a molecular motor protein that moves various organelles and protein complexes along the microtubule rails in cells. Kinesin 1 is a tetramer of two heavy chains (KHCs, also called KIF5s) and two kinesin light chains (KLCs). KIF5s interact with many different proteins through their tail region, but their binding proteins have not yet been fully identified. To identify the interaction proteins for KIF5A, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening and found a specific interaction with ferritin heavy chain (Frt-h), which has a role in iron storage and detoxification. Frt-h bound to the amino acid residues between 800 and 940 of KIF5A and to other KIF5s in the yeast two-hybrid assay. The coiled-coil domain of Frt-h is essential for interaction with KIF5A. In addition, ferritin light chain (Frt-l) interacted with KIF5s in the yeast two-hybrid assay. In addition, these proteins showed specific interactions in the glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay. An antibody to KHC specifically co-immunoprecipitated Frt-h and Frt-l from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest the kinesin 1 motor protein may transport the ferritin complex in cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.14-19
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• 2014

Kinesin-1 consists of two heavy chains (KHCs), also called KIF5s, and two light chains (KLCs) that form a heterotetrameric complex. Here, we demonstrate the binding of a neuronal KHC, KIF5A, to the carboxyl (C)-terminal tail region of Fig4 (also known as Sac3), a phosphatase that removes the 5-phosphate from phosphatidylinositol-3,5-bisphosphate ($PtdIns(3,5)P_2$). Fig4 bound to the C-terminal region of KIF5A but not to other KHCs (KIF5B and KIF5C) and KLC1 in yeast two-hybrid assays. The interaction was further confirmed in a glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay and by co-immunoprecipitation. Anti-KIF5A antibody co-immunoprecipitated Fig4 with KIF5A from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that kinesin-1 could transport the Fig4-associated protein complex or cargo in cells.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.1226-1233
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• 2011

In neurons, kinesin is the molecular motor that transport cargos along microtubules. KIF5s (alias kinesin-I), are heterotetrameric motor conveying cargos, but the mechanism as to how they recognize and bind to a specific cargos has not yet been completely elucidated. To identify the interaction proteins for KIF5C, yeast two-hybrid screening was performed, and specific interaction with the $\underline{S}$am68-$\underline{l}$ike $\underline{m}$ammalian protein $\underline{2}$ (SLM-2), a member of the $\underline{s}$ignal $\underline{t}$ransducers and $\underline{a}$ctivators of $\underline{R}$NA (STAR) family of RNA processing proteins, was found. SLM-2 bound to the carboxyl (C)-terminal region of KIF5C and to other KIF5 members. The C-terminal domain of Sam68, SLM-1, SLM-2 was essential for interaction with KIF5C in the yeast two-hybrid assay. In addition, glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-downs showed that SAM68, SLM-1, and SLM-2 specifically interacted to Kinesin-I complex. An antibody to SAM68 specifically co-immunoprecipitated SAM68 associated with KIF5s and coprecipitated with a specific set of mRNA. These results suggest that Kinesin-I motor protein transports RNA-associated protein complex in cells.

• BMB Reports
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.723-730
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• 2007

Kinesin is an ATP-driven microtubule motor protein that plays important roles in control of microtubule dynamics, intracellular transport, cell division and signal transduction. The kinesin superfamily is composed of numerous members that are classified into 14 subfamilies. Animal kinesins have been well characterized. In contrast, plant kinesins have not yet to be characterized adequately. Here, a novel plant-specific kinesin gene, GhKCH2, has been cloned from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) fibers and biochemically identified by prokaryotic expression, affinity purification, ATPase activity assay and microtubule-binding analysis. The putative motor domain of GhKCH2, $M_{396-734}$ corresponding to amino acids Q396-N734 was fused with 6$\times$His-tag, soluble-expressed in E. coli and affinity-purified in a large amount. The biochemical analysis demonstrated that the basal ATPase activity of $M_{396-734}$ is not activated by $Ca^{2+}$, but stimulated 30-fold max by microtubules. The enzymatic activation is microtubule-concentration-dependent, and the concentration of microtubules that corresponds to half-maximum activation was about 11 ${\mu}M$, much higher than that of other kinesins reported. The cosedimentation assay indicated that $M_{396-734}$ could bind to microtubules in vitro whenever the nucleotide AMP-PNP is present or absent. As a plant-specific microtubule-dependent kinesin with a lower microtubule-affinity and a nucleotide-independent microtubule-binding ability, cotton GhKCH2 might be involved in the function of microtubules during the deposition of cellulose microfibrils in fibers or the formation of cell wall.

• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.7
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• pp.380-385
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• 2021

Proper targeting of the βPAK-interacting exchange factor (βPIX)/G protein-coupled receptor kinase-interacting target protein (GIT) complex into distinct cellular compartments is essential for its diverse functions including neurite extension and synaptogenesis. However, the mechanism for translocation of this complex is still unknown. In the present study, we reported that the conventional kinesin, called kinesin-1, can transport the βPIX/GIT complex. Additionally, βPIX bind to KIF5A, a neuronal isoform of kinesin-1 heavy chain, but not KIF1 and KIF3. Mapping analysis revealed that the tail of KIF5s and LZ domain of βPIX were the respective binding domains. Silencing KIF5A or the expression of a variety of mutant forms of KIF5A inhibited βPIX targeting the neurite tips in PC12 cells. Furthermore, truncated mutants of βPIX without LZ domain did not interact with KIF5A, and were unable to target the neurite tips in PC12 cells. These results defined kinesin-1 as a motor protein of βPIX, and may provide new insights into βPIX/GIT complex-dependent neuronal pathophysiology.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.673-679
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• 2017

Microtubules are long rods in the cytoplasm of cells that plays a role in cell motility and intracellular transport. Microtubule-based transport by motor proteins is essential in intracellular transport. Kinesin 1 is a molecular motor protein that mediates the intracellular transport of various membranous vesicles, mRNAs, and proteins along microtubules. It is comprised of two heavy chains (KHCs, also called KIF5s) and two light chains (KLCs). KIF5s bear a motor domain in their amino (N)-terminal regions and interact with various cargoes through the cargo-binding domain in their carboxyl (C)-terminal regions. To identify proteins interacting with KIF5B, yeast two-hybrid screening was performed, and a specific interaction with the cytoplasmic linker protein 170 (CLIP-170), a plus end microtubule-binding protein, was found. The coiled-coil domain of CLIP-170 is essential for interactions with KIF5B in the yeast two-hybrid assay. CLIP-170 bound to the cargo-binding domain of KIF5B. Also, other KIF5s, KIF5A and KIF5C, interacted with CLIP-170 in the yeast two-hybrid assay. In addition, glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-downs showed that KIF5s specifically interacted with CLIP-170. An antibody to KIF5B specifically co-immunoprecipitated CLIP-170 associated with KIF5B from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that kinesin 1 motor protein may transport CLIP-170 in cells.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.199-204
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• 2008

KIF1B${\beta}$ is a member of the Kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs), which are microtubule-dependent molecular motors that are involved in various intracellular organellar transport processes. KIF1B${\beta}$ is not restricted to neuronal systems, however, is widely expressed in other tissues, even though the function of KIF1B${\beta}$ is still unclear. To elucidate the KIF1B${\beta}$-binding proteins in non-neuronal cells, we used the yeast two-hybrid system, and found a specific interaction of KIF1B${\beta}$ and the sorting nexin (SNX) 17. The C-terminal region of SNX17 is required for the binding with KIF1B${\beta}$. SNX17 protein bound to the specific region of KIF1Bf3 (813-916. aa), but not to other kinesin family members. In addition, this specific interaction was also observed in the Glutathione S-transferase pull-down assay. An antibody to SNX17 specifically co-immunoprecipitated KIF1B${\beta}$ associated with SNX17 from mouse brain extracts. These results suggest that SNX17 might be involved in the KIF1B${\beta}$-mediated transport as a KIF1B${\beta}$ adaptor protein.