Open AccessStructural insights into human Kif7, a kinesin involved in Hedgehog signalling
Author(s) -
Klejnot Marta,
Kozielski Frank
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
acta crystallographica section d
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1399-0047
DOI - 10.1107/s0907444911053042
Subject(s) - kinesin , cilium , motor protein , subfamily , hedgehog signaling pathway , hedgehog , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , microtubule , gene , signal transduction
Kif7, a member of the kinesin 4 superfamily, is implicated in a variety of diseases including Joubert, hydrolethalus and acrocallosal syndromes. It is also involved in primary cilium formation and the Hedgehog signalling pathway and may play a role in cancer. Its activity is crucial for embryonic development. Kif7 and Kif27, a closely related kinesin in the same subfamily, are orthologues of the Drosophila melanogaster kinesin‐like protein Costal‐2 (Cos2). In vertebrates, they work together to fulfil the role of the single Cos2 gene in Drosophila. Here, the high‐resolution structure of the human Kif7 motor domain is reported and is compared with that of conventional kinesin, the founding member of the kinesin superfamily. These data are a first step towards structural characterization of a kinesin‐4 family member and of this interesting molecular motor of medical significance.