Kinesin superfamily protein 2A (KIF2A) functions in suppression of collateral branch extension.
Through interactions with microtubules, the kinesin superfamily of proteins (KIFs) could have multiple roles in neuronal function and development. During neuronal development, postmitotic neurons develop primary axons extending toward targets, while other collateral branches remain short. Although the process of collateral branching is important for correct wiring of the brain, the mechanisms involved are not well understood. In this study, we analyzed kif2a(-/-) mice, whose brains showed multiple phenotypes, including aberrant axonal branching due to overextension of collateral branches. In kif2a(-/-) growth cones, microtubule-depolymerizing activity decreased. Moreover, many individual microtubules showed abnormal behavior at the kif2a(-/-) cell edge. Based on these results, we propose that KIF2A regulates microtubule dynamics at the growth cone edge by depolymerizing microtubules and that it plays an important role in the suppression of collateral branch extension.
Homma
Noriko
N
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Hongo Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan.
Takei
Yosuke
Y
Tanaka
Yosuke
Y
Nakata
Takao
T
Terada
Sumio
S
Kikkawa
Masahide
M
Noda
Yasuko
Y
Hirokawa
Nobutaka
N
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002678:Chimera; D003433:Crosses, Genetic; D005260:Female; D020439:Growth Cones / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology; D016547:Kinesins / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008870:Microtubules / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
C115709:Kif2b protein, mouse; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D014404:Tubulin; C477238:KIF2A protein, mouse; D016547:Kinesins