Kinesin Family, Member 23 (KIF23)

KIF23 is a member of kinesin-like protein family. This family includes microtubule-dependent molecular motors that transport organelles within cells and move chromosomes during cell division. This protein has been shown to cross-bridge antiparallel microtubules and drive microtubule movement in vitro. The MKLP1 cDNA hybridizes to a single 3.5-kb transcript on HeLa cell Northern blots. The N-terminal region of the deduced 961-amino acid protein contains a 350-residue domain that shares 30 to 45% identity with the motor domains of other members of the kinesin superfamily. The C-terminal region shows little identity with other kinesins. A central region contains heptad repeats of hydrophobic residues that may assemble into a coiled-coil structure similar to kinesin and myosin heavy chain proteins.