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Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Identification of Kinesin-1 Cargos Using Fluorescence Microscopy
08:06

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Deciphering Site-Specific Regulatory Networks of the Kinesin Protein KIF21A Through Integrative Phosphoproteomic

Shanmitha B Rai1, Ayadathil Sujina1, Mukhtar Ahmed2

  • 1Centre for Integrative Omics Data Science (CIODS), Yenepoya (Deemed to be University), Mangalore 575018, India.

International Journal of Molecular Sciences
|July 28, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Site-specific phosphorylation regulates KIF21A, a motor protein implicated in cancer. This study identified key phosphorylation sites and their links to cytoskeletal organization and cancer progression, revealing KIF21A

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Kinesin Family Member 21A (KIF21A) is a motor protein involved in microtubule dynamics and intracellular transport.
  • Emerging evidence suggests KIF21A plays a role in cancer progression.
  • Phosphorylation is a key post-translational modification regulating protein function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize site-specific phosphorylation of KIF21A using an integrative analysis of phosphoproteomics data.
  • To identify kinase associations and functional networks related to KIF21A phosphorylation.
  • To investigate the role of KIF21A phosphorylation in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Integrative analysis of over 3825 human phosphoproteomics studies.
  • Identification and analysis of predominant KIF21A phosphosites (S853, S1212, S1239).
  • Co-regulation pattern analysis, upstream kinase analysis, and pan-cancer expression analysis.

Main Results:

  • Three predominant KIF21A phosphosites (S853, S1212, S1239) were identified.
  • Phosphosite S853 is associated with cytoskeletal organization and cortical microtubule stabilization complexes.
  • Tumor-specific correlations between KIF21A S1239 and CDK18 were observed; KIF21A expression is dysregulated in multiple cancers.

Conclusions:

  • Site-specific phosphorylation is a critical regulatory mechanism for KIF21A.
  • KIF21A is involved in cytoskeleton-associated signaling networks relevant to cancer.
  • Further investigation into KIF21A's role in cancer pathogenesis is warranted.
Keywords:
CMSCKANKKIF21AWD-40 repeatsco-regulationmicrotubule stabilization

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