Abundant kif21b is associated with accelerated progression in neurodegenerative diseases

A novel in-frame deletion in KIF5C gene causes infantile onset epilepsy and psychomotor retardation

Motor proteins, encoded by Kinesin superfamily (KIF) genes, are critical for brain development and plasticity. Increasing studies reported KIF's roles in neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, a 6 years and 3 months-old Chinese boy with markedly symptomatic epilepsy, intellectual disability, brain atrophy, and psychomotor retardation was investigated. His parents and younger sister were phenotypically normal and had no disease-related family history. Whole exome sequencing identified a novel heterozygous in-frame deletion (c.265_267delTCA) in exon 3 of the KIF5C in the proband, resulting in the removal of evolutionarily highly conserved p.Ser90, located in its ATP-binding domain. Sanger sequencing excluded the proband's parents and family members from harboring this variant. The activity of ATP hydrolysis in vitro was significantly reduced as predicted. Immunofluorescence studies showed wild-type KIF5C was widely distributed throughout the cytoplasm, while mutant KIF5C was colocalized with microtubules. The live-cell imaging of the cargo-trafficking assay revealed that mutant KIF5C lost the peroxisome-transporting ability. Drosophila models also confirmed p.Ser90del's essential role in nervous system development. This study emphasized the importance of the KIF5C gene in intracellular cargo-transport as well as germline variants that lead to neurodevelopmental disorders and might enable clinicians for timely and accurate diagnosis and disease management in the future.

Interaction of Tau with Kinesin-1: Effect of Kinesin-1 Heavy Chain Elimination on Autophagy-Mediated Mutant Tau Degradation

Natively unfolded tau has a low propensity to form aggregates, but in tauopathies, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), tau aggregates into paired helical filaments (PHFs) and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Multiple intracellular transport pathways utilize kinesin-1, a plus-end-directed microtubule-based motor. Kinesin-1 is crucial in various neurodegenerative diseases as it transports multiple cargoes along the microtubules (MT). Kinesin-1 proteins cannot progress along MTs due to an accumulation of tau on their surfaces. Although kinesin-1-mediated neuronal transport dysfunction is well-documented in other neurodegenerative diseases, its role in AD has received less attention. Very recently, we have shown that knocking down and knocking out of kinesin-1 heavy chain (KIF5B KO) expression significantly reduced the level and stability of tau in cells and tau transgenic mice, respectively. Here, we report that tau interacts with the motor domain of KIF5B in vivo and in vitro, possibly through its microtubule-binding repeat domain. This interaction leads to the inhibition of the ATPase activity of the motor domain. In addition, the KIF5B KO results in autophagy initiation, which subsequently assists in tau degradation. The mechanisms behind KIF5B KO-mediated tau degradation seem to involve its interaction with tau, promoting the trafficking of tau through retrograde transport into autophagosomes for subsequent lysosomal degradation of tau. Our results suggest how KIF5B removal facilitates the movement of autophagosomes toward lysosomes for efficient tau degradation. This mechanism can be enabled through the downregulation of kinesin-1 or the disruption of the association between kinesin-1 and tau, particularly in cases when neurons perceive disturbances in intercellular axonal transport.

The kinesin Kif21b binds myosin Va and mediates changes in actin dynamics underlying homeostatic synaptic downscaling

Homeostatic synaptic plasticity adjusts the strength of synapses to restrain neuronal activity within a physiological range. Postsynaptic guanylate kinase-associated protein (GKAP) controls the bidirectional synaptic scaling of AMPA receptors (AMPARs); however, mechanisms by which chronic activity triggers cytoskeletal remodeling to downscale synaptic transmission are barely understood. Here, we report that the microtubule-dependent kinesin motor Kif21b binds GKAP and likewise is located in dendritic spines in a myosin Va- and neuronal-activity-dependent manner. Kif21b depletion unexpectedly alters actin dynamics in spines, and adaptation of actin turnover following chronic activity is lost in Kif21b-knockout neurons. Consistent with a role of the kinesin in regulating actin dynamics, Kif21b overexpression promotes actin polymerization. Moreover, Kif21b controls GKAP removal from spines and the decrease of GluA2-containing AMPARs from the neuronal surface, thereby inducing homeostatic synaptic downscaling. Our data highlight a critical role of Kif21b at the synaptic actin cytoskeleton underlying homeostatic scaling of neuronal firing.

Recent advances in novel mutation genes of Parkinson's disease

With increasing life expectancy, a growing number of individuals are being affected by Parkinson's Disease (PD), a Neurodegenerative Disease (ND). Approximately, 5-10% of PD is explained by genetic causes linked to known PD genes. With improvements in genetic testing and high-throughput technologies, more PD-associated susceptibility genes have been reported in recent years. However, a comprehensive review of the pathogenic mechanisms and physiological roles of these genes is still lacking. This article reviews novel genes with putative or confirmed pathogenic mutations in PD reported since 2019, summarizes the physiological functions and potential associations with PD. Newly reported PD-related genes include ANK2, DNAH1, STAB1, NOTCH2NLC, UQCRC1, ATP10B, TFG, CHMP1A, GIPC1, KIF21B, KIF24, SLC25A39, SPTBN1 and TOMM22. However, the evidence for pathogenic effects of many of these genes is inconclusive. A variety of novel PD-associated genes have been identified through clinical cases of PD patients and analysis of Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS). However, more evidence is needed in confirm the strong association of novel genes with disease.

Differential splicing of neuronal genes in a Trem2*R47H mouse model mimics alterations associated with Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND

Molecular characterization of late-onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), the leading cause of age-related dementia, has revealed transcripts, proteins, and pathway alterations associated with disease. Assessing these postmortem signatures of LOAD in experimental model systems can further elucidate their relevance to disease origins and progression. Model organisms engineered with human genetic factors further link these signatures to disease-associated variants, especially when studies are designed to leverage homology across species. Here we assess differential gene splicing patterns in aging mouse models carrying humanized APOE4 and/or the Trem2*R47H variant on a C57BL/6J background. We performed a differential expression of gene (DEG) and differential splicing analyses on whole brain transcriptomes at multiple ages. To better understand the difference between differentially expressed and differentially spliced genes, we evaluated enrichment of KEGG pathways and cell-type specific gene signatures of the adult brain from each alteration type. To determine LOAD relevance, we compared differential splicing results from mouse models with multiple human AD splicing studies.

RESULTS

We found that differentially expressed genes in Trem2*R47H mice were significantly enriched in multiple AD-related pathways, including immune response, osteoclast differentiation, and metabolism, whereas differentially spliced genes were enriched for neuronal related functions, including GABAergic synapse and glutamatergic synapse. These results were reinforced by the enrichment of microglial genes in DEGs and neuronal genes in differentially spliced genes in Trem2*R47H mice. We observed significant overlap between differentially spliced genes in Trem2*R47H mice and brains from human AD subjects. These effects were absent in APOE4 mice and suppressed in APOE4.Trem2*R47H double mutant mice relative to Trem2*R47H mice.

CONCLUSIONS

The cross-species observation that alternative splicing observed in LOAD are present in Trem2*R47H mouse models suggests a novel link between this candidate risk gene and molecular signatures of LOAD in neurons and demonstrates how deep molecular analysis of new genetic models links molecular disease outcomes to a human candidate gene.

Reduction of kinesin I heavy chain decreases tau hyperphosphorylation, aggregation, and memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease and tauopathy models

Many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and frontotemporal dementia with Parkinsonism linked to chromosome 17, are characterized by tau pathology. Numerous motor proteins, many of which are involved in synaptic transmission, mediate transport in neurons. Dysfunction in motor protein-mediated neuronal transport mechanisms occurs in several neurodegenerative disorders but remains understudied in AD. Kinesins are the most important molecular motor proteins required for microtubule-dependent transport in neurons, and kinesin-1 is crucial for neuronal transport among all kinesins. Although kinesin-1 is required for normal neuronal functions, the dysfunction of these motor domains leading to neurodegenerative diseases is not fully understood. Here, we reported that the kinesin-I heavy chain (KIF5B), a key molecular motor protein, is involved in tau homeostasis in AD cells and animal models. We found that the levels of KIF5B in P301S tau mice are high. We also found that the knockdown and knockout (KO) of KIFf5B significantly decreased the tau stability, and overexpression of KIF5B in KIF5B-KO cells significantly increased the expression of phosphorylated and total tau levels. This suggested that KIF5B might prevent tau accumulation. By conducting experiments on P301S tau mice, we showed that partially reducing KIF5B levels can reduce hyperphosphorylation of the human tau protein, formation of insoluble aggregates, and memory impairment. Collectively, our results suggested that decreasing KIF5B levels is sufficient to prevent and/or slow down abnormal tau behavior of AD and other tauopathies.

Structural model of microtubule dynamics inhibition by kinesin-4 from the crystal structure of KLP-12 -tubulin complex

Kinesin superfamily proteins are microtubule-based molecular motors driven by the energy of ATP hydrolysis. Among them, the kinesin-4 family is a unique motor that inhibits microtubule dynamics. Although mutations of kinesin-4 cause several diseases, its molecular mechanism is unclear because of the difficulty of visualizing the high-resolution structure of kinesin-4 working at the microtubule plus-end. Here, we report that KLP-12, a C. elegans kinesin-4 ortholog of KIF21A and KIF21B, is essential for proper length control of C. elegans axons, and its motor domain represses microtubule polymerization in vitro. The crystal structure of the KLP-12 motor domain complexed with tubulin, which represents the high-resolution structural snapshot of the inhibition state of microtubule-end dynamics, revealed the bending effect of KLP-12 for tubulin. Comparison with the KIF5B-tubulin and KIF2C-tubulin complexes, which represent the elongation and shrinking forms of microtubule ends, respectively, showed the curvature of tubulin introduced by KLP-12 is in between them. Taken together, KLP-12 controls the proper length of axons by modulating the curvature of the microtubule ends to inhibit the microtubule dynamics.

From meter-long structures that allow nerve cells to stretch across a body to miniscule ‘hairs’ required for lung cells to clear mucus, many life processes rely on cells sporting projections which have the right size for their role. Networks of hollow filaments known as microtubules shape these structures and ensure that they have the appropriate dimensions. Controlling the length of microtubules is therefore essential for organisms, yet how this process takes place is still not fully elucidated.

Previous research has shown that microtubules continue to grow when their end is straight but stop when it is curved. A family of molecular motors known as kinesin-4 participate in this process, but the exact mechanisms at play remain unclear.

To investigate, Tuguchi, Nakano, Imasaki et al. focused on the KLP-12 protein, a kinesin-4 equivalent which helps to controls the length of microtubules in the tiny worm Caenorhabditis elegans. They performed genetic manipulations and imaged the interactions between KLP-12 and the growing end of a microtubule using X-ray crystallography. This revealed that KLP-12 controls the length of neurons by inhibiting microtubule growth. It does so by modulating the curvature of the growing end of the filament to suppress its extension. A ‘snapshot’ of KLP-12 binding to a microtubule at the resolution of the atom revealed exactly how the protein helps to bend the end of the filament to prevent it from growing further.

These results will help to understand how nerve cells are shaped. This may also provide insights into the molecular mechanisms for various neurodegenerative disorders caused by problems with the human equivalents of KLP-12, potentially leading to new therapies.

Targeting kinesin family member 21B by miR-132-3p represses cell proliferation, migration and invasion in gastric cancer

Recently, kinesin family member 21B (KIF21B) has been reported to be an oncogene in non-small cell lung cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the functional role of KIF21B and related molecular mechanisms in gastric cancer (GC) remain largely uncovered. In this study, online bioinformatics analysis showed that KIF21B was overexpression in GC and predicted poor prognosis. Consistently, we found that the protein expression of KIF21B was upregulated in GC tissues compared with adjacent tissues by immunohistochemistry. Knockdown of KIF21B significantly suppressed cell proliferation, migration and invasion in GC cell lines (AGS and SNU-5) using Cell counting kit‑8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation and transwell assay. KIF21B was confirmed as the target of miR-132-3p in GC cells by luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, miR-132-3p was down-regulated and KIF21B expression was upregulated in GC tissues. Overexpression of KIF21B reversed the miR-132-3p-mediated suppressive effects on GC cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Furthermore, miR-132-3p overexpression downregulated the protein levels of Wnt1, c-Myc, β-catenin, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and N-cadherin, and upregulated E-cadherin expression in GC cells, which were all alleviated after KIF21B overexpression. In conclusion, our findings indicate that down-regulation of KIF21B by miR-132-3p suppresses cellular functions in GC, which might be linked to reduced Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Systematic review of human post-mortem immunohistochemical studies and bioinformatics analyses unveil the complexity of astrocyte reaction in Alzheimer's disease

AIMS

Reactive astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) have traditionally been demonstrated by increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity; however, astrocyte reaction is a complex and heterogeneous phenomenon involving multiple astrocyte functions beyond cytoskeletal remodelling. To better understand astrocyte reaction in AD, we conducted a systematic review of astrocyte immunohistochemical studies in post-mortem AD brains followed by bioinformatics analyses on the extracted reactive astrocyte markers.

METHODS

NCBI PubMed, APA PsycInfo and WoS-SCIE databases were interrogated for original English research articles with the search terms 'Alzheimer's disease' AND 'astrocytes.' Bioinformatics analyses included protein-protein interaction network analysis, pathway enrichment, and transcription factor enrichment, as well as comparison with public human -omics datasets.

RESULTS

A total of 306 articles meeting eligibility criteria rendered 196 proteins, most of which were reported to be upregulated in AD vs control brains. Besides cytoskeletal remodelling (e.g., GFAP), bioinformatics analyses revealed a wide range of functional alterations including neuroinflammation (e.g., IL6, MAPK1/3/8 and TNF), oxidative stress and antioxidant defence (e.g., MT1A/2A, NFE2L2, NOS1/2/3, PRDX6 and SOD1/2), lipid metabolism (e.g., APOE, CLU and LRP1), proteostasis (e.g., cathepsins, CRYAB and HSPB1/2/6/8), extracellular matrix organisation (e.g., CD44, MMP1/3 and SERPINA3), and neurotransmission (e.g., CHRNA7, GABA, GLUL, GRM5, MAOB and SLC1A2), among others. CTCF and ESR1 emerged as potential transcription factors driving these changes. Comparison with published -omics datasets validated our results, demonstrating a significant overlap with reported transcriptomic and proteomic changes in AD brains and/or CSF.

CONCLUSIONS

Our systematic review of the neuropathological literature reveals the complexity of AD reactive astrogliosis. We have shared these findings as an online resource available at www.astrocyteatlas.org.

A novel age-informed approach for genetic association analysis in Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND

Many Alzheimer's disease (AD) genetic association studies disregard age or incorrectly account for it, hampering variant discovery.

METHODS

Using simulated data, we compared the statistical power of several models: logistic regression on AD diagnosis adjusted and not adjusted for age; linear regression on a score integrating case-control status and age; and multivariate Cox regression on age-at-onset. We applied these models to real exome-wide data of 11,127 sequenced individuals (54% cases) and replicated suggestive associations in 21,631 genotype-imputed individuals (51% cases).

RESULTS

Modeling variable AD risk across age results in 5-10% statistical power gain compared to logistic regression without age adjustment, while incorrect age adjustment leads to critical power loss. Applying our novel AD-age score and/or Cox regression, we discovered and replicated novel variants associated with AD on KIF21B, USH2A, RAB10, RIN3, and TAOK2 genes.

CONCLUSION

Our AD-age score provides a simple means for statistical power gain and is recommended for future AD studies.

Set-Based Rare Variant Expression Quantitative Trait Loci in Blood and Brain from Alzheimer Disease Study Participants

Because studies of rare variant effects on gene expression have limited power, we investigated set-based methods to identify rare expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) related to Alzheimer disease (AD). Gene-level and pathway-level cis rare-eQTL mapping was performed genome-wide using gene expression data derived from blood donated by 713 Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative participants and from brain tissues donated by 475 Religious Orders Study/Memory and Aging Project participants. The association of gene or pathway expression with a set of all cis potentially regulatory low-frequency and rare variants within 1 Mb of genes was evaluated using SKAT-O. A total of 65 genes expressed in the brain were significant targets for rare expression single nucleotide polymorphisms (eSNPs) among which 17% (11/65) included established AD genes HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DRB5. In the blood, 307 genes were significant targets for rare eSNPs. In the blood and the brain, GNMT, LDHC, RBPMS2, DUS2, and HP were targets for significant eSNPs. Pathway enrichment analysis revealed significant pathways in the brain (n = 9) and blood (n = 16). Pathways for apoptosis signaling, cholecystokinin receptor (CCKR) signaling, and inflammation mediated by chemokine and cytokine signaling were common to both tissues. Significant rare eQTLs in inflammation pathways included five genes in the blood (ALOX5AP, CXCR2, FPR2, GRB2, IFNAR1) that were previously linked to AD. This study identified several significant gene- and pathway-level rare eQTLs, which further confirmed the importance of the immune system and inflammation in AD and highlighted the advantages of using a set-based eQTL approach for evaluating the effect of low-frequency and rare variants on gene expression.

Normal levels of KIF5 but reduced KLC1 levels in both Alzheimer disease and Alzheimer disease in Down syndrome: evidence suggesting defects in anterograde transport

BACKGROUND

Impaired axonal transport may contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Down syndrome (DS). Axonal transport is a complex process in which specific motor proteins move cargoes to and from neuronal cell bodies and their processes. Inconsistent reports point to the changes in AD in the levels of the classical anterograde motor protein kinesin family member 5 (KIF5) and the primary neuronal KIF regulator kinesin light chain 1 (KLC1), raising the possibility that anterograde transport is compromised in AD.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

To address inconsistencies and determine if the shared pathologies in AD and elderly DS subjects with dementia (AD in DS; AD-DS) extend to the changes in KIF5 and KLC1, we measured the levels of all the three KIF5 family members and KLC1 in the AD and AD-DS frontal cortex and AD temporal cortex and cerebellum in samples taken with a short postmortem interval. To support future studies to explore the cell biological basis for any changes detected, we also examined the levels of these proteins in the brains of young and aged adult mice in the Dp (16)1Yey/+ (Dp16) mouse model of DS and J20 mouse model of AD.

RESULTS

There were no changes in comparison with controls in KIF5 family members in either the AD or AD-DS samples when normalized to either β-actin or glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). Interestingly, however, samples from control brains as well as from AD and AD-DS demonstrated strong positive correlations between the levels of KIF5 family members, suggesting positive co-regulated expression. Importantly, while earlier reports pointed to a negative correlation between the levels of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and KIF5A levels, we found the opposite to be true in AD-DS; this was especially striking given triplication of the APP gene, with increased APP protein levels. AD and control samples showed positive correlations between fl-hAPP and KIF5 members, but they were less consistent. In contrast to the findings for KIF5, the levels of KLC1 were downregulated in the frontal cortex of both AD and AD-DS brains; interestingly, this change was not seen in the AD temporal cortex or cerebellum. As postmortem interval has a negative effect on the levels of KLC1, but not KIF5 members, we analyzed a subset of samples with a very short postmortem interval (PMI) (≤ 6 h), a PMI that was not significantly correlated with the levels of KLC1 in either AD or AD-DS samples; we confirmed the presence of a statistically significant reduction of KLC1 in AD and AD-DS brains as compared with control brains. Studies comparing Dp16 to its euploid control recapitulated human studies in demonstrating no change in KIF5 levels and a positive correlation between the levels of KIF5 family members. J20 mice also showed normal KIF5 levels. However, unlike the AD and AD-DS frontal cortex, KLC1 levels were not reduced in the brains of Dp16 or J20 mice.

CONCLUSION

These data point to significant reductions in KLC1 in AD and AD-DS. In so doing, they raise the possibility of compromised KLC1-mediated axonal transport in these conditions, a posit that can now be pursued in model systems in which KLC1 expression is reduced.

KIF21B Expression in Osteosarcoma and Its Regulatory Effect on Osteosarcoma Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis Through the PI3K/AKT Pathway

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common malignancy that occurs mainly during childhood and adolescence; however, no clear molecular or biological mechanism has been identified. In this study, we aimed to explore new biomarkers for the early diagnosis, targeted treatment, and prognostic determination of osteosarcoma. We first used bioinformatics analysis to show that KIF21B can be used as a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of osteosarcoma. We then examined the expression of KIF21B in human osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines using immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and qRT-PCR. It was found that KIF21B expression was significantly upregulated in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines. After knocking down the expression of KIF21B in the osteosarcoma cell lines 143B and U2-OS, we used cell fluorescence counting, CCK-8 assays, flow cytometry, and TUNEL staining to examine the effects of KIF21B on osteosarcoma cell proliferation and apoptosis. The results demonstrated that knocking down KIF21B in 143B and U2-OS cells could increase cell apoptosis, inhibit cell proliferation, and reduce tumor formation in nude mice. Subsequently, we used gene chips and bioinformatics to analyze the differential gene expression caused by knocking down KIF21B. The results showed that KIF21B may regulate OS cell proliferation and apoptosis by targeting the PI3K/AKT pathway. We then examined the expression of PI3K/AKT- and apoptosis-related proteins using western blotting. KIF21B knockdown inhibited the PI3K pathway, downregulated Bcl-2, and upregulated Bax. Moreover, the use of PI3K/AKT pathway agonists reversed the regulatory effect of KIF21B on the apoptosis and proliferation of 143B and U2-OS cells. In conclusion, our results indicated that KIF21B plays a key role in osteosarcoma. Low KIF21B expression might indirectly increase the apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells through the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Modifiable, Non-Modifiable, and Clinical Factors Associated with Progression of Alzheimer's Disease

There is an extensive literature relating to factors associated with the development of Alzheimer's disease (AD), but less is known about factors which may contribute to its progression. This review examined the literature with regard to 15 factors which were suggested by PubMed search to be positively associated with the cognitive and/or neuropathological progression of AD. The factors were grouped as potentially modifiable (vascular risk factors, comorbidities, malnutrition, educational level, inflammation, and oxidative stress), non-modifiable (age at clinical onset, family history of dementia, gender, Apolipoprotein E ɛ4, genetic variants, and altered gene regulation), and clinical (baseline cognitive level, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and extrapyramidal signs). Although conflicting results were found for the majority of factors, a positive association was found in nearly all studies which investigated the relationship of six factors to AD progression: malnutrition, genetic variants, altered gene regulation, baseline cognitive level, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and extrapyramidal signs. Whether these or other factors which have been suggested to be associated with AD progression actually influence the rate of decline of AD patients is unclear. Therapeutic approaches which include addressing of modifiable factors associated with AD progression should be considered.

Kinesin-4 KIF21B limits microtubule growth to allow rapid centrosome polarization in T cells

When a T cell and an antigen-presenting cell form an immunological synapse, rapid dynein-driven translocation of the centrosome toward the contact site leads to reorganization of microtubules and associated organelles. Currently, little is known about how the regulation of microtubule dynamics contributes to this process. Here, we show that the knockout of KIF21B, a kinesin-4 linked to autoimmune disorders, causes microtubule overgrowth and perturbs centrosome translocation. KIF21B restricts microtubule length by inducing microtubule pausing typically followed by catastrophe. Catastrophe induction with vinblastine prevented microtubule overgrowth and was sufficient to rescue centrosome polarization in KIF21B-knockout cells. Biophysical simulations showed that a relatively small number of KIF21B molecules can restrict mirotubule length and promote an imbalance of dynein-mediated pulling forces that allows the centrosome to translocate past the nucleus. We conclude that proper control of microtubule length is important for allowing rapid remodeling of the cytoskeleton and efficient T cell polarization.

The immune system is composed of many types of cells that can recognize foreign molecules and pathogens so they can eliminate them. When cells in the body become infected with a pathogen, they can process the pathogen’s proteins and present them on their own surface. Specialized immune cells can then recognize infected cells and interact with them, forming an ‘immunological synapse’. These synapses play an important role in immune response: they activate the immune system and allow it to kill harmful cells.

To form an immunological synapse, an immune cell must reorganize its internal contents, including an aster-shaped scaffold made of tiny protein tubes called microtubules. The center of this scaffold moves towards the immunological synapse as it forms. This re-orientation of the microtubules towards the immunological synapse is known as 'polarization' and it happens very rapidly, but it is not yet clear how it works.

One molecule involved in the polarization process is called KIF21B, a protein that can walk along microtubules, building up at the ends and affecting their growth. Whether KIF21B makes microtubules grow more quickly, or more slowly, is a matter of debate, and the impact microtubule length has on immunological synapse formation is unknown.

Here, Hooikaas, Damstra et al. deleted the gene for KIF21B from human immune cells called T cells to find out how it affected their ability to form an immunological synapse. Without KIF21B, the T cells grew microtubules that were longer than normal, and had trouble forming immunological synapses. When the T cells were treated with a drug that stops microtubule growth, their ability to form immunological synapses was restored, suggesting a role for KIF21B. To explore this further, Hooikaas, Damstra et al. replaced the missing KIF21B gene with a gene that coded for a version of the protein that could be seen using microscopy. This revealed that, when KIF21B reaches the ends of microtubules, it stops their growth and triggers their disassembly. Computational modelling showed that cells find it hard to reorient their microtubule scaffolding when the individual tubes are too long. It only takes a small number of KIF21B molecules to shorten the microtubules enough to allow the center of the scaffold to move.

Research has linked the KIF21B gene to autoimmune conditions like multiple sclerosis. Microtubules also play an important role in cell division, a critical process driving all types of cancer. Drugs that affect microtubule growth are already available, and a deeper understanding of KIF21B and microtubule regulation in immune cells could help to improve treatments in the future.

The Molecular Motor KIF21B Mediates Synaptic Plasticity and Fear Extinction by Terminating Rac1 Activation

Fear extinction is a component of cognitive flexibility that is relevant for important psychiatric diseases, but its molecular mechanism is still largely elusive. We established mice lacking the kinesin-4 motor KIF21B as a model for fear extinction defects. Postsynaptic NMDAR-dependent long-term depression (LTD) is specifically impaired in knockouts. NMDAR-mediated LTD-causing stimuli induce dynamic association of KIF21B with the Rac1GEF subunit engulfment and cell motility protein 1 (ELMO1), leading to ELMO1 translocation out of dendritic spines and its sequestration in endosomes. This process may essentially terminate transient activation of Rac1, shrink spines, facilitate AMPAR endocytosis, and reduce postsynaptic strength, thereby forming a mechanistic link to LTD expression. Antagonizing ELMO1/Dock Rac1GEF activity by the administration of 4-[3'-(2″-chlorophenyl)-2'-propen-1'-ylidene]-1-phenyl-3,5-pyrazolidinedione (CPYPP) significantly reverses the knockout phenotype. Therefore, we propose that KIF21B-mediated Rac1 inactivation is a key molecular event in NMDAR-dependent LTD expression underlying cognitive flexibility in fear extinction.

Gene and environment interplay in cognition: Evidence from twin and molecular studies, future directions and suggestions for effective candidate gene x environment (cGxE) research

Last decade of molecular research in the field of cognitive science has shown that no single approach can give satisfactory results as far as gene hunt is concerned. Cohesive theory of gene-environment interaction seems to be a rational idea for bridging the gap in our knowledge of disorders involving cognitive deficit. It may even be helpful to some extent in resolving issues of missing heritability. We review the current state of play in the area of cognition at genetic and environmental fronts. Evidence of apparent gene-environment (GxE) interactions from various studies has been mentioned with the aim of redirecting the focus of research community towards studying such interactions with the help of sensitive designs and molecular techniques. We re-evaluate candidate gene-environment research in order to emphasize its potential if carried out strategically.

Overexpression of Kinesin Superfamily Motor Proteins in Alzheimer's Disease

Defects in motor protein-mediated neuronal transport mechanisms have been implicated in a number of neurodegenerative disorders but remain relatively little studied in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our aim in the present study was to assess the expression of the anterograde kinesin superfamily motor proteins KIF5A, KIF1B, and KIF21B, and to examine their relationship to levels of hyperphosphorylated tau, amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP), and amyloid-β (Aβ) in human brain tissue. We used a combination of qPCR, immunoblotting, and ELISA to perform these analyses in midfrontal cortex from 49 AD and 46 control brains. Expression of KIF5A, KIF1B, and KIF21B at gene and protein level was significantly increased in AD. KIF5A protein expression correlated inversely with the levels of AβPP and soluble Aβ in AD brains. Upregulation of KIFs may be an adaptive response to impaired axonal transport in AD.

Kinesin-4 KIF21B is a potent microtubule pausing factor

Microtubules are dynamic polymers that in cells can grow, shrink or pause, but the factors that promote pausing are poorly understood. Here, we show that the mammalian kinesin-4 KIF21B is a processive motor that can accumulate at microtubule plus ends and induce pausing. A few KIF21B molecules are sufficient to induce strong growth inhibition of a microtubule plus end in vitro. This property depends on non-motor microtubule-binding domains located in the stalk region and the C-terminal WD40 domain. The WD40-containing KIF21B tail displays preference for a GTP-type over a GDP-type microtubule lattice and contributes to the interaction of KIF21B with microtubule plus ends. KIF21B also contains a motor-inhibiting domain that does not fully block the interaction of the protein with microtubules, but rather enhances its pause-inducing activity by preventing KIF21B detachment from microtubule tips. Thus, KIF21B combines microtubule-binding and regulatory activities that together constitute an autonomous microtubule pausing factor.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24746.001

Microtubules are tiny tubes that cells use as rails to move various cell compartments and structures to different locations within the cell. They are made of building blocks called tubulin and form extensive networks across the cell. Depending on the cell’s needs, microtubule networks can be rapidly assembled and disassembled by adding or removing tubulin subunits at the ends of individual microtubules. While a lot is known about how cells regulate the growth and shrinkage of microtubules, much less is known about the factors that can pause these processes and thus stabilize a microtubule.

Proteins belonging to the kinesin family are molecular motors that can walk along microtubules and control how microtubules grow and shrink. A kinesin known as KIF21B is found in several types of cells including neurons and immune cells and genetic alterations in this protein have been linked with several neurodegenerative diseases. KIF21B is made up of three regions: a motor domain, a stalk and a tail domain that binds to microtubules. Recent studies have suggested that this kinesin affects the ability of one end of microtubules (known as the plus end) to grow.

Here, van Riel, Rai, Bianchi et al. used a biochemical approach to investigate the activity of KIF21B. The experiments show that KIF21B can walk to the plus end of microtubules and efficiently pause growth. Small numbers of KIF21B molecules are enough to inhibit microtubule growth and this activity depends on the motor domain and the tail domain of KIF21B working together. These experiments were performed a cell-free system and so the next challenge is to investigate how KIF21B works in living cells, including neurons and immune cells.

DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.24746.002

Structural basis for misregulation of kinesin KIF21A autoinhibition by CFEOM1 disease mutations

Tight regulation of kinesin activity is crucial and malfunction is linked to neurological diseases. Point mutations in the KIF21A gene cause congenital fibrosis of the extraocular muscles type 1 (CFEOM1) by disrupting the autoinhibitory interaction between the motor domain and a regulatory region in the stalk. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the misregulation of KIF21A activity in CFEOM1 is not understood. Here, we show that the KIF21A regulatory domain containing all disease-associated substitutions in the stalk forms an intramolecular antiparallel coiled coil that inhibits the kinesin. CFEOM1 mutations lead to KIF21A hyperactivation by affecting either the structural integrity of the antiparallel coiled coil or the autoinhibitory binding interface, thereby reducing its affinity for the motor domain. Interaction of the KIF21A regulatory domain with the KIF21B motor domain and sequence similarities to KIF7 and KIF27 strongly suggest a conservation of this regulatory mechanism in other kinesin-4 family members.

Elevated Expression of the Cerebrospinal Fluid Disease Markers Chromogranin A and Clusterin in Astrocytes of Multiple Sclerosis White Matter Lesions

Using proteomics, we previously identified chromogranin A (CgA) and clusterin (CLU) as disease-related proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). CgA and CLU are involved in cell survival and are implicated in neurodegenerative disorders and may also have roles in MS pathophysiology. We investigated CgA and CLU expression in lesions and nonlesional regions in postmortem brains of MS patients and controls and in the brains of marmosets with experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. By quantitative PCR, mRNA levels of CgA and CLU were elevated in white matter but not in grey matter of MS patients. In situ analyses showed greater expression of CgA and CLU in white matter lesions than in normal-appearing regions in MS patients and in the marmosets, primarily in or adjacent to perivascular spaces and inflammatory infiltrates. Both proteins were expressed by glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive astrocytes. CgA was more localized in astrocytic processes and endfeet surrounding blood vessels and was abundant in the superficial glia limitans and ependyma, 2 CSF-brain borders. Increased expression of CgA and CLU in reactive astrocytes in MS white matter lesions supports a role for these molecules as neuro-inflammatory mediators and their potential as CSF markers of active pathological processes in MS patients.

The Kinesin KIF21B Regulates Microtubule Dynamics and Is Essential for Neuronal Morphology, Synapse Function, and Learning and Memory

The kinesin KIF21B is implicated in several human neurological disorders, including delayed cognitive development, yet it remains unclear how KIF21B dysfunction may contribute to pathology. One limitation is that relatively little is known about KIF21B-mediated physiological functions. Here, we generated Kif21b knockout mice and used cellular assays to investigate the relevance of KIF21B in neuronal and in vivo function. We show that KIF21B is a processive motor protein and identify an additional role for KIF21B in regulating microtubule dynamics. In neurons lacking KIF21B, microtubules grow more slowly and persistently, leading to tighter packing in dendrites. KIF21B-deficient neurons exhibit decreased dendritic arbor complexity and reduced spine density, which correlate with deficits in synaptic transmission. Consistent with these observations, Kif21b-null mice exhibit behavioral changes involving learning and memory deficits. Our study provides insight into the cellular function of KIF21B and the basis for cognitive decline resulting from KIF21B dysregulation.