PUBLICATION

Unique Function of Kinesin Kif5A in Localization of Mitochondria in Axons

Authors
Campbell, P.D., Shen, K., Sapio, M.R., Glenn, T.D., Talbot, W.S., Marlow, F.L.
ID
ZDB-PUB-141031-8
Date
2014
Source
The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience   34: 14717-32 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Campbell, Philip, Glenn, Tom, Marlow, Florence, Talbot, William S.
Keywords
CMT, HSP, Kinesin, axon degeneration, mitochondria, sensory neuron
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Axonal Transport/physiology
  • Axons/metabolism*
  • Kinesins/genetics
  • Kinesins/metabolism*
  • Mitochondria/genetics
  • Mitochondria/metabolism*
  • Nerve Degeneration/genetics
  • Nerve Degeneration/metabolism
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
25355224 Full text @ J. Neurosci.
Abstract
Mutations in Kinesin proteins (Kifs) are linked to various neurological diseases, but the specific and redundant functions of the vertebrate Kifs are incompletely understood. For example, Kif5A, but not other Kinesin-1 heavy-chain family members, is implicated in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), but the mechanism of its involvement in the progressive axonal degeneration characteristic of these diseases is not well understood. We report that zebrafish kif5Aa mutants exhibit hyperexcitability, peripheral polyneuropathy, and axonal degeneration reminiscent of CMT and HSP. Strikingly, although kif5 genes are thought to act largely redundantly in other contexts, and zebrafish peripheral neurons express five kif5 genes, kif5Aa mutant peripheral sensory axons lack mitochondria and degenerate. We show that this Kif5Aa-specific function is cell autonomous and is mediated by its C-terminal tail, as only Kif5Aa and chimeric motors containing the Kif5Aa C-tail can rescue deficits. Finally, concurrent loss of the kinesin-3, kif1b, or its adaptor kbp, exacerbates axonal degeneration via a nonmitochondrial cargo common to Kif5Aa. Our results shed light on Kinesin complexity and reveal determinants of specific Kif5A functions in mitochondrial transport, adaptor binding, and axonal maintenance.
Genes / Markers
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Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
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Mapping