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Updated: Jun 27, 2026
10:46
Motility of Single Molecules and Clusters of Bi-Directional Kinesin-5 Cin8 Purified from S. cerevisiae Cells
Published on: February 2, 2022
Kinesin-5 is essential for growth-cone turning
Vidya C Nadar1, Andrea Ketschek, Kenneth A Myers
1Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19129, USA.
Current Biology : CB
|December 17, 2008
Summary
Inhibiting kinesin-5 in neurons prevents microtubule (MT) polarization in growth cones, hindering axon guidance. This motor protein regulates MT entry into growth cone domains, crucial for turning responses.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Motor Function
Background:
- Kinesin-5 is a mitotic motor protein found in neurons, influencing axonal growth via microtubule (MT) forces.
- Axon growth cone guidance relies on the directional movement of MTs into specific growth cone domains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of kinesin-5 in growth cone guidance mechanisms.
- To understand how kinesin-5 influences MT dynamics and polarization within neuronal growth cones.
Main Methods:
- Utilized cultured neurons to study the effects of kinesin-5 inhibition on growth cone behavior.
- Examined MT dynamics and kinesin-5 localization and phosphorylation within growth cones using microscopy.
Main Results:
- Kinesin-5 inhibition disrupted MT polarization in growth cones, impairing responses to guidance cues.
- Kinesin-5 is enriched in the growth cone transition zone and its phosphorylation correlates with MT invasion.
- Kinesin-5 antagonizes cytoplasmic dynein, collectively regulating MT entry into the peripheral domain.
Conclusions:
- Kinesin-5 plays a critical role in growth cone guidance by controlling MT entry into the peripheral domain.
- Kinesin-5's motor activity, in conjunction with MT dynamics and dynein, dictates directional axon growth.
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