Kinesin Family, Member 9 (KIF9)

The deduced 790-amino acid mouse protein contains an N-terminal kinesin domain and a central region predicted to form a coiled-coil structure. The N-terminal motor domain suggests that Kif9 is likely a plus-ended microtubule motor, and the coiled-coil domain suggests that the protein exists as a dimer. Expression of Kif9 was downregulated during embryonic development of the hippocampus. Expression during kidney development was the opposite, being low in embryonic kidney and significantly higher in adult. KIF9 interacts specifically with the core region of GEM. Gem and Kif9 were expressed in parallel during embryonic development, and both proteins cosedimented with stabilized microtubules. The proteins were not associated with depolymerized microtubules.