Kinesin Family, Member 1A (KIF1A)

KIF1A is a member of the kinesin family. This protein is highly similar to mouse heavy chain kinesin member 1A protein which is an anterograde motor protein that transports membranous organelles along axonal microtubules. It is thought that this protein may play a critical role in the development of axonal neuropathies resulting from impaired axonal transport. There are multiple polyadenylation sites found in this gene.This switch-like transition for movement could be shifted to lower PtdIns(4,5)P2 concentrations by the addition of cholesterol/sphingomyelin or GM1 ganglioside/cholera toxin, conditions that produced raft-like behavior of Unc104 bound to lipid bilayers. The authors concluded that clustering of Unc104 in PtdIns(4,5)P2-containing rafts provides a trigger for membrane transport.