cDNA cloning, expression pattern, genomic structure and chromosomal location of RAB6KIFL, a human kinesin-like gene

Kinesin-like proteins are microtubule-associated motors that play important roles in intracellular transport and cell division. We report here the cha racterization of a new human kinesin-like protein, Rabkinesin6 (RAB6KIFL). The composite cDNA sequence is 2957 bp, and encodes a protein of 890 amino acids with a predicted molecular weight of 100 kDa. It has high homology (9 3% similarity) with the mouse kinesin-like protein, Rab6kifl, indicating th at it is the human homologue of the mouse gene. RAB6KIFL has all of the str uctural characteristics required to function as a microtubule-associated mo tor. Unlike the mouse gene which is ubiquitously expressed, RAB6KIFL expres sion appears to be tissue specific. It is widely expressed in fetal tissues , abundantly expressed in adult thymus, bone marrow and testis, and is expr essed at low levels in heart, placenta and spleen. The RAB6KIFL gene is map ped to human chromosome 5, band q31, spans similar to 8.5 kb of genomic DNA , and contains 19 exons. RAB6KIFL maps within the smallest commonly deleted segment in myeloid leukemias characterized by a deletion of 5q; however, w e detected no mutations of RAB6KIFL in malignant myeloid disorders with los s of 5q. The description of this human kinesin-like protein may provide a b etter understanding of the diversity of this large family of proteins. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.