title: Chromokinesin: Kinesin superfamily regulating cell division through chromosome and spindle.
abstract: Material transportation is essential for appropriate cellular morphology and functions, especially during cell division. As a motor protein moving along microtubules, kinesin has several intracellular functions. Many kinesins play important roles in chromosome condensation and separation and spindle organization during the cell cycle. Some of them even can directly bind to chromosomes, as a result, these proteins are called chromokinesins. Kinesin-4 and kinesin-10 family are two major families of chromokinesin and many members can regulate some processes, both in mitosis and meiosis. Their functions have been widely studied. Here, we summarize current knowledge about known chromokinesins and introduce their intracellular features in accordance with different families. Furthermore, we have also introduced some new-found but unconfirmed kinesins which may have a relationship with chromosomes or the cell cycle.
authors.affiliation: The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
authors.forename: Ai
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
authors.forename: Fu-Qing
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: The Sperm Laboratory, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China. Electronic address: wxyang@spermlab.org.
authors.forename: Wan-Xi
authors.initials: WX
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D016547:Kinesins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D008540:Meiosis; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008938:Mitosis; D005810:Multigene Family; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D008941:Spindle Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms; C092349:chromokinesin; D016547:Kinesins
keywords: Cell cycle; Chromokinesin; Chromosome movement; Spindle organization