Roles of two homotetrameric kinesins in sea urchin embryonic cell division.
To improve our understanding of the roles of microtubule cross-linking motors in mitosis, we analyzed two sea urchin embryonic kinesin-related proteins. It is striking to note that both of these proteins behave as homotetramers, but one behaves as a more compact molecule than the other. These observations suggest that these two presumptive motors could cross-link microtubules into bundles with different spacing. Both motors localize to mitotic spindles, and antibody microinjection experiments suggest that they have mitotic functions. Thus, one of these kinesin-related proteins may cross-link spindle microtubules into loose bundles that are "tightened" by the other.
Chui
K K
KK
Section of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
Rogers
G C
GC
Kashina
A M
AM
Wedaman
K P
KP
Sharp
D J
DJ
Nguyen
D T
DT
Wilt
F
F
Scholey
J M
JM
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D016547:Kinesins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008845:Microinjections; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012617:Sea Urchins / Q000196:embryology*
D016547:Kinesins