KIF3C, A NOVEL MEMBER OF THE KINESIN SUPERFAMILY - SEQUENCE, EXPRESSION, AND MAPPING TO HUMAN-CHROMOSOME-2 AT 2P23

Kinesins are microtubule-dependent molecular motors involved in intrac ellular transport and mitosis. Here, we report the cloning, sequencing , mapping, and expression of a novel member of the kinesin superfamily , The sequence of this newly identified human cDNA reveals an open rea ding frame encoding a putative protein of 792 residues. Based on its h igh sequence similarity to the kinesin-like molecule KIF3B, we named t his protein KIF3C. KIF3C is encoded by transcripts that are distinct f rom the KIF3B mRNA in human, rat, and mouse and is preferentially expr essed in the brain, Fluorescence in situ hybridization reveals that, i n the human genome, the KIF3C gene maps to chromosome 2 at 2p23. The s equence of KIF3C predicts an unusually long insertion in the proximity of L11, a region thought to mediate microtubule binding. Taken togeth er, these findings suggest that KIF3C is a novel kinesin-like protein that might be specifically involved in microtubule-based transport in neuronal cells. (C) 1998 Academic Press.