A unique kinesin-like protein, Klp8, is involved in mitosis and cell morphology through microtubule stabilization

Kinesin Motors in the Filamentous Basidiomycetes in Light of the Schizophyllum commune Genome

Kinesins are essential motor molecules of the microtubule cytoskeleton. All eukaryotic organisms have several genes encoding kinesin proteins, which are necessary for various cell biological functions. During the vegetative growth of filamentous basidiomycetes, the apical cells of long leading hyphae have microtubules extending toward the tip. The reciprocal exchange and migration of nuclei between haploid hyphae at mating is also dependent on cytoskeletal structures, including the microtubules and their motor molecules. In dikaryotic hyphae, resulting from a compatible mating, the nuclear location, synchronous nuclear division, and extensive nuclear separation at telophase are microtubule-dependent processes that involve unidentified molecular motors. The genome of Schizophyllum commune is analyzed as an example of a species belonging to the Basidiomycota subclass, Agaricomycetes. In this subclass, the investigation of cell biology is restricted to a few species. Instead, the whole genome sequences of several species are now available. The analyses of the mating type genes and the genes necessary for fruiting body formation or wood degrading enzymes in several genomes of Agaricomycetes have shown that they are controlled by comparable systems. This supports the idea that the genes regulating the cell biological process in a model fungus, such as the genes encoding kinesin motor molecules, are also functional in other filamentous Agaricomycetes.

Kinesin family member 2A high expression correlates with advanced tumor stages and worse prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer patients

Background

This present study was to explore the association of kinesin family member 2A (KIF2A) expression with clinicopathological features and survival profiles, and the effect of KIF2A on cell proliferation and chemosensitivity in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods

Tumor and paired adjacent specimens were collected from 380 patients with NSCLC underwent resection for immunohistochemistry assay of KIF2A expression. In vitro, the effect of KIF2A on cell proliferation, chemosensitivity to cisplatin/vinorelbine was detected via KIF2A plasmids transfection into NCI‐H1299 NSCLC cells.

Results

Kinesin family member 2A expression was upregulated in tumor tissues compared with adjacent tissues, and tumor tissue KIF2A high expression was associated with higher pathological grade (P < .001), larger tumor size (P = .021), lymph node metastasis (P = .044), and increased tumor‐node‐metastasis stage (P = .001). As for survival profiles, disease‐free survival (P < .001) and overall survival (P < .001) were worse in patients with KIF2A high expression compared with those with KIF2A low expression. Multivariate Cox's regression exhibited that KIF2A high expression was an independent predictive factor for lower DFS (P < .001) and OS (P < .001). In vitro, KIF2A promoted proliferation and decreased chemosensitivity to cisplatin but not vinorelbine in NCI‐H1299 NSCLC cells.

Conclusions

The correlation of KIF2A expression with tumor features, survival, and its cellular function implies its potential as a prognostic biomarker and a treatment target in NSCLC.