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First published online April 22, 2009

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Distinctly dynamic Kinesin-5

Kinesin-5 is a plus-end-directed motor protein that is essential for the assembly of the mitotic spindle. However, it was unknown whether the role of Kinesin-5 in this process is only to crosslink and slide microtubules, or whether its mechanochemical properties are also important for spindle assembly. On page 1295, Julie Cahu and Thomas Surrey now show that the motor domain of Kinesin-5 is also required for spindle assembly in Xenopus egg extract. The authors create chimeric motor proteins by swapping the motor domain of Kinesin-5 with the motor domains of other kinesin subfamily proteins with faster motor properties. When endogenous Kinesin-5 is replaced by the chimeric motors in Xenopus egg extracts, spindle formation is defective, indicating that the specific properties of the Kinesin-5 motor domain are required for its role in spindle assembly. Closer examination of defective spindle formation suggests that both the affinity of Kinesin-5 for microtubules and the velocity determined by its motor domain might be important. However, the features of the Kinesin-5 motor domain that are essential for spindle formation remain to be elucidated.

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Related articles in JCS:

Motile microtubule crosslinkers require distinct dynamic properties for correct functioning during spindle organization in Xenopus egg extract

Julie Cahu and Thomas Surrey
JCS 2009 122: 1295-1300. [Abstract] [Full Text]  

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in JCS Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?