A novel C-terminal kinesin subfamily may be involved in chromosomal movement in Caenorhabditis is elegans

C-terminal kinesin motor proteins, such as the Drosophila NCD and yeast KAR 3, are involved in chromosomal segregation. Previously we have described tw o orthologs of NCD in Caenorhabditis elegans, KLP-3 and KLP-17, which also participate in chromosome movement. Here we report cDNA cloning of klp-15 a nd klp-16, and the expression pattern of the genes encoding C-terminal moto r kinesins including klp-15 and klp-16, Interestingly KLP-15 and KLP-16 for m a unique class of C-terminal kinesins, distinct from the previously known C-terminal motors in other organisms, Using in situ hybridization and RNA interference assay, we show that although all of these motors mediate chrom osome segregation, they do so in a combination of unique and overlapping ma nners, suggesting a complex hierarchy of kinesin motor function in metazoan s, (C) 2000 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.