Identification of the human KIF13A gene homologous to Drosophila kinesin-73 and candidate for schizophrenia

Several studies have reported significant linkage for schizophrenia on 6p23 , with a maximum lod score between D6S274 and D6S285, In this paper, we pre sent a new human kinesin gene localized in this 2-cM interval. This gene, t ermed KIF13A, belongs to the unc-104/KIF1A kinesin subfamily and represents the orthologue of Drosophila kinesin-73, Several alternative transcripts a re differentially expressed in human tissues, probably reflecting differenc es in cargo binding and transport of corresponding proteins. During early m ouse development, its homologue (Kif13A) is expressed essentially in the ce ntral nervous system. In Caenorhabditis elegans, the unc-104 gene is involv ed in axonal anterograde transport, and null mutants present several behavi oral defects. The putative function and genomic localization of KIF13A make this gene an interesting candidate for genetic predisposition to schizophr enia, We provide sequences of 20 single-nucleotide polymorphisms localized within KIF13A to test for association studies between this gene and schizop hrenia. (C) 2001 Academic Press.