2007/09/10 by Kenneth A. Myers, Peter W. Baas · 2 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Neuroscience · #Microtubule and mitosis dynamics #Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms #Cellular Mechanics and Interactions
paper · pdf · doi:10.1083/jcb.200702074
openalex publication_date 2007/09/10 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/04
Kinesin-5 is a homotetrameric motor protein that interacts with adjacent microtubules in the mitotic spindle. Kinesin-5 is also highly expressed in developing postmitotic neurons. Axons of cultured neurons experimentally depleted of kinesin-5 grow up to five times longer than controls and display more branches. The faster growth rates are accompanied by a doubling of the frequency of transport of short microtubules, suggesting a major role for kinesin-5 in the balance of motor-driven forces on the axonal microtubule array. Live-cell imaging reveals that the effects on axonal length of kinesin-5 depletion are caused partly by a lower propensity of the axon and newly forming branches to undergo bouts of retraction. Overexpression of wild-type kinesin-5, but not a rigor mutant of kinesin-5, has the inverse effect on axonal length. These results indicate that kinesin-5 imposes restrictions on the growth of the axon and does so at least in part by generating forces on the axonal microtubule array.