The family-specific α4-helix of the kinesin-13, MCAK, is critical to microtubule end recognition

Patel, Jennifer T.; Belsham, Hannah R.; Rathbone, Alexandra J.; Wickstead, Bill; Gell, Christopher; Friel, Claire T.

Abstract

Kinesins that influence the dynamics of microtubule growth and shrinkage require the ability to distinguish between the microtubule end and the microtubule lattice. The microtubule depolymerizing kinesin MCAK has been shown to specifically recognize the microtubule end. This ability is key to the action of MCAK in regulating microtubule dynamics. We show that the a4-helix of the motor domain is crucial to microtubule end recognition. Mutation of the residues K524, E525 and R528, which are located in the C-terminal half of the a4-helix, specifically disrupts the ability of MCAK to recognize the microtubule end. Mutation of these residues, which are conserved in the kinesin-13 family and discriminate members of this family from translocating kinesins, impairs the ability of MCAK to discriminate between the microtubule lattice and the microtubule end.

Citation

Patel, J. T., Belsham, H. R., Rathbone, A. J., Wickstead, B., Gell, C., & Friel, C. T. (2016). The family-specific α4-helix of the kinesin-13, MCAK, is critical to microtubule end recognition. Open Biology, 6(10), Article 160223. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.160223

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Sep 10, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Oct 1, 2016
• Publication Date: 2016-10
• Deposit Date: Oct 17, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 17, 2016
• Journal: Open Biology
• Electronic ISSN: 2046-2441
• Publisher: The Royal Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 10
• Article Number: 160223
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1098/rsob.160223
• Keywords: MCAK; kinesin-13; microtubule; depolymerization; ATP turnover; microtubule end recognition
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/823827
• Publisher URL: http://rsob.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/6/10/160223
• Contract Date: Oct 17, 2016