Mechanism and regulation of kinesin-5, an essential motor for the mitotic spindle

Joshua S. Waitzman, Sarah E. Rice*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mitotic cell division is the most fundamental task of all living cells. Cells have intricate and tightly regulated machinery to ensure that mitosis occurs with appropriate frequency and high fidelity. A core element of this machinery is the kinesin-5 motor protein, which plays essential roles in spindle formation and maintenance. In this review, we discuss how the structural and mechanical properties of kinesin-5 motors uniquely suit them to their mitotic role. We describe some of the small molecule inhibitors and regulatory proteins that act on kinesin-5, and discuss how these regulators may influence the process of cell division. Finally, we touch on some more recently described functions of kinesin-5 motors in non-dividing cells. Throughout, we highlight a number of open questions that impede our understanding of both this motor's function and the potential utility of kinesin-5 inhibitors.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1-12
Number of pages12
JournalBiology of the Cell
Volume106
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2014

Keywords

  • Kinesin
  • Microtubule
  • Mitosis
  • Phosphorylation
  • Tpx2

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cell Biology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mechanism and regulation of kinesin-5, an essential motor for the mitotic spindle'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this