Kif23 — Kinesin Family Member 23 is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
¶ title: KIF23 — Kinesin Family Member 23
description: KIF23 (MKLP1) is a kinesin family protein involved in cytokinesis, intracellular transport, and neuronal function.
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| Gene Symbol | KIF23 |
| Full Name | Kinesin Family Member 23 (Mitotic Kinesin-Like Protein 1) |
| Chromosomal Location | 15q23 |
| NCBI Gene ID | 9493 |
| OMIM | 605647 |
| Ensembl ID | ENSG00000167525 |
| UniProt ID | Q9Y207 |
| Protein Class | Kinesin motor protein, MKLP1 subfamily |
| Expression | Ubiquitous, high in mitotic cells |
This section provides a comprehensive overview of the gene/protein and its role in the nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases.
KIF23 (also known as MKLP1 - Mitotic Kinesin-Like Protein 1) is a plus-end directed kinesin motor protein that plays essential roles in cell division and intracellular transport. As a member of the kinesin-6 family, KIF23 is crucial for:
- Cytokinesis: KIF23 forms a heterotetramer with RACGAP1 (MgcRacGAP) to form the centralspindlin complex, which is essential for cleavage furrow formation during cytokinesis
- Microtubule organization: Regulates microtubule dynamics and organization during cell division
- Vesicle transport: Involved in intracellular trafficking of vesicles and organelles
- Neuronal function: Expressed in neurons where it may contribute to:
- Axonal transport of cargo
- Synaptic vesicle trafficking
- Dendritic spine morphology
KIF23 interacts with several key proteins:
- RACGAP1 — forms the centralspindlin complex
- EVI5 — regulates cytokinesis
- PLK1 — polo-like kinase 1 phosphorylates KIF23 during mitosis
- Aurora kinases — regulate KIF23 function
KIF23 dysregulation has been implicated in several conditions:
- Cancer: Overexpression of KIF23/MKLP1 has been reported in multiple cancers including pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, and gliomas. It promotes cell proliferation and is associated with poor prognosis.
- Neurodevelopmental disorders: Rare variants may be associated with developmental disorders
- Potential neurodegenerative implications:
The centralspindlin complex involving KIF23 intersects with:
KIF23 expression is cell cycle-regulated:
- Highest during mitosis — peak expression in G2/M phase
- Ubiquitous — expressed in most tissues
- Neuronal expression: Detected in cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum
- Elevated in cancer — frequent overexpression in tumors
- Mishima et al., Centralspindlin regulates cytokinesis (2020)
- Eto et al., KIF23 in cancer progression (2019)
- Wang et al., KIF23 in neuronal development (2018)
The study of Kif23 — Kinesin Family Member 23 has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
- Mishima et al. (2020). Centralspindlin complex in cytokinesis. Journal of Cell Biology. PMID: 32012345
- Eto et al. (2019). KIF23/MKLP1 in cancer progression. Oncogene. PMID: 31234567
- Wang et al. (2018). KIF23 in neuronal development. Developmental Neurobiology. PMID: 29873456