MS-KIF18A, new kinesin; structure and cellular expression

The present study describes the cloning and molecular analysis of a new gene, MS-KIF18A, a member of the kinesin family. MS-KIF18A was cloned from a marrow stromal cells expression library. Transcripts derived from this gene were also detected in testis and trachea, although they differed from the stroma mesenchymal cell transcript in the open reading frame (ORF) as well as in the untranslated regions (UTRs). The existence of various transcripts suggests alternative regulation of gene expression and defines tissue specific function of the new kinesin. The cDNA from the marrow stroma, MS-KIF18A, encodes a predicted protein of 898 amino acids with a molecular weight of 100 kDa. Kinesins are motor proteins that consist of a motor domain with microtubule-binding and ATPase sites, a coiled coil region and a cargo-binding domain. Examination of a three-dimensional model of the MS-KIF18A motor domain suggested that this protein associates with microtubules, which was confirmed by immunofluorescence (IF) experiments in stromal cells.