| 2003 |
MCAK is an ATPase that catalytically depolymerizes microtubules by accelerating, ~100-fold, the rate of tubulin dissociation from microtubule ends. It has one high-affinity binding site per protofilament end, and up to 14 MCAK dimers can assemble at the end of a microtubule to form an ATP-hydrolyzing complex that processively depolymerizes the microtubule, removing ~20 tubulin dimers at a rate of 1 s⁻¹. |
In vitro ATPase assay, microtubule depolymerization kinetics, single-molecule analysis |
Molecular cell |
High |
12620232
|
| 2004 |
Aurora B phosphorylates MCAK at serine 196 (neck region) and additional sites in the centromere-targeting domain, inhibiting its microtubule depolymerization activity in vitro and in vivo. Aurora B activity is required to localize MCAK to centromeres but not spindle poles. Phospho-S196 MCAK was detected at centromeres and anaphase spindle midzones in vivo. Injection of anti-pS196 antibodies into Xenopus egg extracts or cells caused chromosome positioning/segregation defects. |
In vitro kinase assay, mass spectrometry phosphorylation site mapping, antibody injection into Xenopus egg extracts and live cells, immunofluorescence |
Current biology : CB |
High |
14960279 14972678
|
| 2004 |
Aurora B inhibits MCAK microtubule depolymerizing activity in vitro. Phosphomimetic MCAK (S/E) mutants inhibit depolymerization in vivo and localize preferentially to the inner centromere, while phospho-null (S/A) mutants concentrate at kinetochores. Both mutants increase syntelic attachments and mono-oriented chromosomes. FRAP analysis identifies two distinct MCAK binding sites at centromeres. Aurora B kinase-dead mutant or RNAi prevents centromeric targeting of MCAK. |
In vitro depolymerization assay, phosphomimetic/phosphonull mutagenesis, live-cell fluorescence imaging, FRAP, RNAi |
Developmental cell |
High |
14960279
|
| 2004 |
In Xenopus egg extracts, recombinant Aurora B–INCENP inhibits MCAK microtubule depolymerase activity in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. An Aurora B-resistant alanine mutant (XMCAK-4A) produces mono-astral and monopolar structures instead of bipolar spindles when substituted for endogenous MCAK, and its ability to localize to inner centromeres is abolished. This demonstrates that Aurora B-dependent phosphorylation differentiates cytoplasmic from spindle-associated MCAK activity. |
In vitro kinase assay, Xenopus egg extract spindle assembly, phospho-resistant mutagenesis, immunofluorescence localization |
Molecular biology of the cell |
High |
15064354
|
| 2003 |
Depletion of centromeric MCAK by injection of a dominant-negative centromere-targeting domain into prophase cells leads to reduced centromere stretch, delayed chromosome congression, alignment defects, severe chromosome missegregation, and multiple kinetochore-microtubule attachment defects (merotelic, syntelic, combined). Rates of chromosome movement are unchanged, indicating MCAK's primary role is not chromosome translocation but error correction of kinetochore-microtubule attachments. |
Dominant-negative protein microinjection, high-resolution immunofluorescence, live-cell imaging |
Molecular biology of the cell |
High |
14699064
|
| 2006 |
MCAK moves along the microtubule lattice via one-dimensional (1D) random walk (diffusion coefficient 0.38 μm² s⁻¹, average duration 0.83 s). This lattice diffusion is ATP-independent, whereas catalytic depolymerization requires ATP hydrolysis. The 1D diffusion enables MCAK to target microtubule ends at rates exceeding 3D diffusion limits ('reduction in dimensionality' search strategy). |
Single-molecule fluorescence microscopy, TIRF-based in vitro assay |
Nature |
High |
16672973
|
| 2007 |
Among the three human kinesin-13 paralogs, MCAK (Kif2c) specifically functions at kinetochores to regulate microtubule dynamics for chromosome alignment; its loss creates a permissive background that restores bipolar spindle assembly in Kif2a-depleted or Kif2b-depleted cells, demonstrating distinct pathway positions. MCAK and Kif2a activities must be balanced at kinetochores vs. poles for spindle bipolarity. |
siRNA knockdown, epistasis by double depletion, live-cell imaging, spindle assembly assays |
Molecular biology of the cell |
High |
15302853 17538014
|
| 2005 |
MCAK tracks (treadmills) with the tips of polymerizing microtubules in living cells. This tip-tracking behavior requires the extreme C-terminal tail of MCAK and is inhibited by phosphorylation. Tip tracking is not essential for MCAK's microtubule-depolymerizing activity, suggesting it serves as a localization mechanism to regions of active plus-end regulation. |
Live-cell fluorescence imaging, C-terminal deletion mutants, phospho-mutant analysis |
The Journal of cell biology |
High |
15883193
|
| 2006 |
Aurora B is specifically enriched at merotelic attachment sites. Aurora B activity (but not its localization) is required to enrich MCAK at merotelic attachments and phosphorylates MCAK on residues that regulate its microtubule depolymerase activity at these sites. |
Immunofluorescence, Aurora B inhibition, MCAK localization analysis at merotelic sites |
Current biology : CB |
Medium |
16950107
|
| 2007 |
hSgo2 is required for MCAK to localize to the centromere. Delocalization of MCAK in hSgo2-depleted cells accounts for uncorrected kinetochore attachment defects. hSgo2 is associated with PP2A and contributes to spatial regulation of MCAK activity within the inner centromere/kinetochore region. |
siRNA depletion, immunofluorescence colocalization, Co-immunoprecipitation |
The Journal of cell biology |
Medium |
17485487
|
| 2010 |
Aurora B phosphorylates hSgo2 at its N-terminal coiled-coil and middle regions; these phosphorylations separately promote binding of hSgo2 to PP2A and MCAK, respectively. Aurora B-phosphorylated hSgo2 is essential for recruiting both PP2A and MCAK to centromeres. |
In vitro kinase assay, phospho-mutant analysis, Co-immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence |
Genes & development |
High |
20889715
|
| 2009 |
TIP150 is a plus-end tracking protein (+TIP) that binds EB1 and co-localizes with it at microtubule plus ends. TIP150 also directly binds MCAK; suppression of TIP150 diminishes MCAK plus-end localization. Aurora B-mediated phosphorylation disrupts the TIP150–MCAK interaction in vitro, linking Aurora B regulation to MCAK plus-end targeting. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, in vitro binding assay, siRNA knockdown, immunofluorescence, in vitro phosphorylation assay |
EMBO reports |
Medium |
19543227
|
| 2007 |
MCAK associates with the C-terminus of EB1 and EB3 through an interaction involving the N-terminal localization and regulatory domain of MCAK (not the motor domain). EB1 knockdown impairs GFP-MCAK tip localization in cells. The EB1–MCAK interaction is competitive with other EB1 ligands and does not require microtubules. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, GST pulldown domain mapping, siRNA knockdown, live-cell imaging |
Oncogene |
Medium |
17968321
|
| 2010 |
In vitro reconstitution shows that EB3 targets MCAK to growing microtubule ends by increasing MCAK's association rate with microtubule tips via direct EB3–MCAK interaction. While MCAK alone blocks microtubule assembly, addition of EB3 restores robust growth. The MCAK–EB3 combination enhances catastrophe frequency, promoting rapid switching between growth and shortening, without affecting growth or shortening velocity. |
In vitro reconstitution of dynamic microtubule assay, TIRF microscopy, domain mutants, quantitative kinetics |
Current biology : CB |
High |
20850319
|
| 2011 |
Kif18b binds directly to MCAK, and this interaction is required for robust microtubule depolymerization of astral microtubules. Aurora kinases negatively regulate the Kif18b–MCAK interaction through phosphorylation of MCAK, demonstrating that Aurora kinases regulate spindle microtubule plus-end stability through control of Kif18b–MCAK complex formation. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, siRNA knockdown, in vitro kinase assay, live-cell imaging, microtubule dynamics assays |
Current biology : CB |
High |
21820309
|
| 2008 |
Aurora A phosphorylates MCAK at S196 (shared with Aurora B) to regulate MCAK localization and activity at aster centers during Ran-induced spindle assembly, and at S719 to positively enhance bipolar spindle formation. This defines a distinct role for MCAK at spindle poles regulated by Aurora A, separate from Aurora B regulation at centromeres. |
Xenopus egg extract spindle assembly, in vitro kinase assay, phosphosite mutagenesis, immunofluorescence |
Molecular biology of the cell |
High |
18434591
|
| 2006 |
The N-terminal domain of MCAK is essential for regulating microtubule dynamics and kinetochore targeting; the C-terminal domain is essential for tight microtubule lattice binding and robust in vitro depolymerization activity. The neck is essential for microtubule end binding. Both C-terminal domain and neck are required for robust in vitro depolymerization activity. |
Purified GFP-domain deletion mutants, in vitro depolymerization assay, Xenopus egg extract spindle assay |
Molecular biology of the cell |
High |
17093055
|
| 2007 |
Depletion of centromere-associated MCAK using chimeric constructs decreases directional coordination between sister kinetochores, reduces movement speed, and increases tension. Sister centromeres cannot detach efficiently from kinetochore microtubules during directional switching. Anchoring ectopic MCAK to the centromere reverses these effects. This demonstrates that centromere-MCAK promotes kinetochore microtubule turnover to coordinate directional switching. |
MCAK chimera/dominant-negative constructs, live-cell imaging, sister centromere distance and dynamics measurements |
The Journal of cell biology |
High |
18039936
|
| 2011 |
MCAK depolymerizes microtubules from both plus and minus ends and generates significant tension (~1 pN per motor). An MCAK-decorated bead slides along microtubule sides under weak loads and captures/disassembles both microtubule ends. This 'side-sliding, end-catching' mechanism allows MCAK to generate driving force for chromosome movement at both kinetochores and spindle poles. |
Optical trap, bead-MCAK decoration assay, single-molecule microtubule depolymerization force measurements |
Nature cell biology |
High |
21602793
|
| 2013 |
Aurora B phosphorylation at S196 in the neck region opens MCAK from a closed (inhibited) conformation (detected by FRET/FLIM biosensor) to an open conformation, diminishing the interaction between the C-terminal domain and neck. This conformational opening decreases MCAK affinity for the microtubule, reducing its depolymerization activity. MCAK bound to microtubule ends is in a closed conformation relative to lattice-bound MCAK. |
FRET biosensor, FLIM, TIRF imaging, phosphomimetic mutagenesis, in vitro depolymerization assay |
Current biology : CB |
High |
24291095
|
| 2015 |
The C-terminus of MCAK binds to two motor domains in solution (crystal structure determined), acting as an autoinhibitory interaction that is displaced allosterically upon microtubule binding. This allows robust MCAK accumulation at microtubule ends. The C-terminus–motor interaction represents a structural intermediate in the MCAK catalytic cycle involving long-range conformational changes. |
X-ray crystallography (structure of motor domain bound to C-terminus), crosslinking, biochemical binding assays |
eLife |
High |
25915621
|
| 2015 |
The KVD motif at the tip of kinesin-13-specific loop 2 of Kif2C is required for microtubule-stimulated ATPase activity and depolymerization. Upon microtubule binding, Kif2C undergoes a conformational change governed in part by KVD interaction with the tubulin interdimer interface. A switch-2 glutamate mutant (E to A) that blocks ATP hydrolysis in motile kinesins still depolymerizes microtubules and yields Kif2C–two-tubulin complexes, demonstrating that the conformational change upon tubulin binding is sufficient for tubulin release and ATP hydrolysis is not required for this step. |
In vitro ATPase assay, microtubule depolymerization assay, mutagenesis, structural modeling, biochemical complex analysis |
The Journal of biological chemistry |
High |
26055718
|
| 2016 |
The α4-helix residues K524, E525, and R528 of the MCAK motor domain are critical for microtubule end recognition. Mutations at these conserved kinesin-13-specific positions specifically disrupt the ability of MCAK to recognize microtubule ends (reducing end residence time and end-specific ADP dissociation stimulation) without affecting lattice binding, impairing depolymerization. |
Mutagenesis, in vitro microtubule end-binding assay, single-molecule fluorescence imaging, ATPase assay |
Open biology |
High |
27733589
|
| 2019 |
MCAK has a compact conformation in solution (confirmed by crosslinking and electron microscopy). When bound to microtubule ends, MCAK adopts an extended conformation in which the N-terminus and neck interact with the microtubule. The level of Aurora B phosphorylation of the N-terminus results in a graded (not binary) inhibition of MCAK depolymerase activity through allosteric regulation decoupling the N-terminus from the motor domain. |
Chemical crosslinking mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, in vitro kinase assay, phosphomimetic mutants, microtubule depolymerization assay |
Journal of cell science |
High |
30578316
|
| 2016 |
GTSE1 inhibits MCAK microtubule depolymerase activity. Cells lacking GTSE1 show defects in chromosome alignment and spindle positioning due to MT instability caused by excess MCAK activity. Artificially elevated GTSE1 hyperstabilizes kinetochore microtubules and increases chromosome missegregation/CIN. |
siRNA depletion, overexpression, co-immunoprecipitation, in vitro depolymerization assay, live-cell imaging |
The Journal of cell biology |
Medium |
27881713
|
| 2016 |
NuSAP is a novel binding partner of MCAK and modulates MCAK depolymerization activity. Aurora B kinase phosphorylation of MCAK significantly enhances the NuSAP–MCAK interaction, and NuSAP modulates MCAK depolymerization in an Aurora B-dependent manner to regulate kinetochore microtubule dynamics. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, in vitro depolymerization assay, siRNA knockdown, phospho-mutant analysis |
Scientific reports |
Medium |
26733216
|
| 2015 |
Aurora B–PLK1 signaling axis regulates MCAK in mitosis: Aurora B phosphorylates PLK1 at Thr210 to activate PLK1 at kinetochores; active PLK1 in turn phosphorylates MCAK at Ser715 to promote its microtubule depolymerase activity. Non-phosphorylatable MCAK S715A prevents correct kinetochore–microtubule attachment, resulting in chromosome bridges in anaphase. |
FRET-based PLK1 activity reporter, phosphorylation site mutagenesis, in vitro kinase assay, immunofluorescence, live-cell imaging |
Scientific reports |
Medium |
26206521
|
| 2014 |
A Rac1–Aurora A–MCAK signaling pathway mediates endothelial cell polarization and directional migration. Aurora A kinase activity (regionally enhanced by Rac1 signaling) locally inhibits MCAK microtubule depolymerizing activity at the trailing edge of polarized wound-edge endothelial cells, promoting regional differences in MT dynamics. |
siRNA knockdown, dominant-negative/constitutively active Rac1, inhibitor treatment, high-resolution fluorescence microscopy with MT plus-end tracking, quantitative image analysis |
The Journal of cell biology |
Medium |
25002679
|
| 2012 |
MCAK tip-tracking (EB-dependent binding to growing microtubule ends via the SKIP motif N-terminal to the neck) negatively regulates microtubule length within the assembling bipolar spindle. This function requires MCAK's ability to bind EB proteins. Abolishing tip tracking (EB-binding mutant) leads to over-long non-kinetochore microtubules, antagonizes centrosome separation, but ultimately impairs robust kinetochore attachment. |
EB-binding SKIP motif mutants, siRNA rescue, live-cell imaging, spindle microtubule length measurements |
The Journal of cell biology |
Medium |
22492725
|
| 2013 |
Lateral-to-end-on conversion of chromosome-microtubule attachment requires MCAK to release laterally attached microtubules after partial end-on attachment is formed, acting sequentially after CENP-E-mediated lateral tethering. |
High-resolution live imaging assay, siRNA knockdown of MCAK and CENP-E, classification of attachment intermediates |
Current biology : CB |
Medium |
23891108
|
| 2014 |
TIP150–MCAK interaction governs entosis via Aurora A-mediated phosphorylation of MCAK. MCAK forms an intramolecular association required for TIP150 binding; Aurora A phosphorylation of MCAK modulates this intramolecular association, disrupting the MCAK–TIP150 interaction in vitro and inhibiting entosis in vivo. MCAK cooperates with TIP150 to modulate cell mechanical rigidity during entosis. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, in vitro kinase/binding assay, optical trap (cell rigidity), live-cell imaging, siRNA knockdown |
Journal of molecular cell biology |
Medium |
24847103
|
| 2016 |
The far C-terminal residues E715/E716 of MCAK regulate MCAK conformation and spindle pole focusing. Point mutation E715A/E716A increases MCAK targeting to poles and reduces MT lifetimes, inducing unfocused spindle poles—a phenotype phenocopied by Aurora A phosphomimetic S719E. The kinesin-14 XCTK2 rescues unfocused-pole phenotype, placing MCAK and XCTK2 in opposing activities at poles. |
Xenopus egg extract spindle assembly, point mutagenesis, immunofluorescence, FRET conformation assay |
Molecular biology of the cell |
Medium |
26941326
|
| 2020 |
KIF2C (MCAK) is recruited to DNA double-strand break (DSB) sites in a PARP- and ATM-dependent manner. KIF2C knockdown/knockout leads to accumulation of endogenous DNA damage, DNA damage hypersensitivity, and reduced DSB repair via both NHEJ and HR. KIF2C depletion or inhibition of its microtubule depolymerase activity reduces DSB mobility, impairs DNA damage foci formation, and decreases foci fusion/resolution. |
DSB-mimicking DNA template pulldown in Xenopus extracts, CRISPR knockout, siRNA knockdown, γH2AX foci analysis, live-cell DSB tracking, NHEJ/HR reporter assays |
eLife |
Medium |
31951198
|
| 2020 |
KIF2C interacts with TBC1D7, and this interaction disrupts formation of the TSC complex, resulting in enhanced mTORC1 signal transduction. KIF2C is a direct transcriptional target of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and mediates crosstalk between Wnt/β-catenin and mTORC1 signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, gain/loss-of-function assays, luciferase reporter assay, Western blot, in vivo xenograft |
Protein & cell |
Medium |
32748349
|
| 2022 |
KIF2C regulates microtubule dynamics in neuronal dendrites and activity-dependent microtubule invasion into dendritic spines. KIF2C knockdown or conditional knockout impairs spine morphology, synaptic AMPA receptor expression, excitatory transmission, long-term potentiation, and cognitive behavior in mice. |
RNAi knockdown, conditional knockout (Cre-lox), live microtubule imaging in neurons, electrophysiology, behavioral tests |
eLife |
Medium |
35138249
|
| 2023 |
KIF2C regulates transport of mGlu1 receptors in cerebellar Purkinje cells by binding to Rab8. KIF2C deficiency in Purkinje cells reduces mGlu1 and GluA2 synaptic expression, alters excitatory but not inhibitory transmission, and causes motor incoordination in male mice. |
Conditional knockout (Purkinje cell-specific), Co-immunoprecipitation with Rab8, immunofluorescence, electrophysiology, behavioral motor tests |
The Journal of physiology |
Medium |
37431690
|
| 2021 |
Both overexpression and downregulation of MCAK/KIF2C reduce cell motility and migration. Specifically, altered MCAK levels impair focal adhesion protein composition and phosphorylation, assembly/disassembly rate of focal adhesions, cell adhesion, and plus-tip microtubule dynamics. This demonstrates MCAK acts as a regulator of cell motility through actin-MT cytoskeleton dynamics and focal adhesion turnover. |
CRISPR/dCas9 overexpression and knockdown cell lines, live-cell imaging, focal adhesion lifetime assays, MT plus-tip tracking, Western blot |
Cancers |
Medium |
34830827
|
| 2021 |
MCAK's spatial distribution of activity (higher at trailing edge than leading edge) is required for cell polarity, centrosome positioning, focal adhesion disassembly, and directional migration. Rac1 overexpression has a dominant effect over MCAK activity, placing Rac1 downstream of or parallel to MCAK in the migration pathway. |
siRNA knockdown, Rac1 overexpression epistasis, live-cell imaging, FA lifetime measurements, MT dynamics analysis |
Molecular biology of the cell |
Medium |
33566676
|
| 1999 |
MCAK contains multiple nuclear localization sequences (NLS) and a nuclear exclusion sequence (NES) in the amino-terminal region that balance its nucleocytoplasmic distribution. Amino acid substitutions in the ATP-binding domain of the MCAK motor affect nuclear localization, in turn influencing the degree of centromere binding. |
GFP-MCAK deletion constructs, ATP-binding domain mutagenesis, fluorescence microscopy localization |
Cell biology international |
Medium |
10600236
|
| 2008 |
MCAK accumulates during the cell cycle, reaches maximum at G2/M, and is rapidly degraded by the proteasome during mitosis. A phosphorylated form of MCAK appears during mitosis and is preferentially degraded. This degradation limits MCAK activity during late mitosis, arguing against a role in anaphase chromosome movement. |
Cell cycle fractionation, immunofluorescence, proteasome inhibitor treatment, Western blot |
Cell cycle (Georgetown, Tex.) |
Medium |
18843200
|
| 2012 |
A phosphorylation site on MCAK controls its proteasomal degradation; phosphorylation-resistant mutation prolongs MCAK stability beyond the metaphase-to-anaphase transition and prevents MCAK removal from centromeres, causing MCAK retention throughout the cell cycle and mitotic defects. A phosphomimetic mutation accelerates degradation. |
Phosphosite mutagenesis, proteomic phosphorylation site identification, immunofluorescence, cell division assays |
Cytoskeleton (Hoboken, N.J.) |
Medium |
22422706
|
| 2017 |
Cdk1 phosphorylates MCAK at T537 within the motor domain. A phosphomimetic T537E mutant significantly impairs microtubule depolymerization by reducing the ability of MCAK to recognize microtubule ends specifically: microtubule-end residence time is reduced, lattice residence time is unaffected, and end-specific ADP dissociation stimulation is abolished. |
Phosphomimetic mutagenesis, single-molecule TIRF imaging (end/lattice residence times), ATPase assay, cell transfection phenotype |
PeerJ |
Medium |
29230353
|
| 2022 |
In vitro reconstitution shows that Kif18b, MCAK, and EB3 act as an integrated network to potently promote microtubule depolymerization at very low concentrations. Kif18b transports EB3 and MCAK to microtubule plus ends through multivalent weak interactions, enabling cooperative plus-end shortening. |
In vitro reconstitution, single-molecule TIRF imaging, quantitative microtubule depolymerization assay |
Journal of cell science |
High |
35502670
|
| 2011 |
DDA3 localizes to kinetochores and interacts with MCAK. Depletion of DDA3 causes chromosome congression defects associated with loss of MCAK function at kinetochores, and results in CENP-E accumulation at unaligned kinetochores, without affecting Aurora B/CPC activity. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, siRNA knockdown, immunofluorescence |
Biochemical and biophysical research communications |
Low |
21426902
|
| 2005 |
CaMKIIgamma depletion leads to disorganized multipolar spindles by failing to suppress MCAK depolymerase activity. Two distinct but overlapping mechanisms for negative regulation of the cytosolic/centrosomal pool of MCAK exist: one involving CaMKIIgamma and another involving TOGp. Both are essential for spindle bipolarity; their effects are abolished in MCAK-depleted cells, placing both upstream of MCAK in spindle assembly. |
siRNA RNAi depletion, inducible overexpression, epistasis by double depletion, immunofluorescence |
The EMBO journal |
Medium |
15775983
|
| 2022 |
α-Tubulin detyrosination suppresses MCAK activity; experimental increase of detyrosinated α-tubulin and MCAK depletion produce non-cumulative enhancement of taxol cytotoxicity and cell death in mitosis/interphase, identifying a mechanistic link between α-tubulin detyrosination and MCAK activity suppression. |
siRNA knockdown, detyrosination manipulation, flow cytometry cell death assay, clonogenic assay, combinatorial treatment epistasis |
The Journal of cell biology |
Medium |
36459065
|
| 2025 |
KIF2C preferentially depolymerizes polyglutamylated tubulin even in the presence of paclitaxel. A chemical inhibitor 7S9 prohibits dissociation of KIF2C from microtubules, counteracting KIF2C-mediated paclitaxel resistance. Combination of 7S9 and paclitaxel significantly reduces tumorigenesis in chemoresistant TNBC mouse models. |
In vitro depolymerization assay with polyglutamylated tubulin, KIF2C inhibitor development, in vivo mouse tumor model |
Developmental cell |
Medium |
40157365
|
| 2021 |
KIF2C directly binds PKM2 (confirmed by Co-IP), and this interaction prevents PKM2 ubiquitination, increasing PKM2 stability. Domain 2 of KIF2C mediates the PKM2 binding. Elevated KIF2C promotes autophagy and glycolysis in doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer cells via PKM2 stabilization. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, Western blot (ubiquitination assay), domain deletion mapping, functional metabolic assays |
Cancer cell international |
Low |
34663310
|
| 2025 |
The N-terminal domain of KIF2C adopts a Tudor/PWWP/MBT fold that binds phosphorylated motifs, including phosphorylated BRCA2-pT207. KIF2C forms membrane-less organelles (condensates) in an Aurora B- and PLK1-dependent manner via this phospho-binding domain. KIF2C condensation concentrates PLK1 and BRCA2-pT207 at microtubule ends/extremities; condensates exclude tubulin. KIF2C depolymerase activity promotes condensate formation. Aurora B is required for condensate formation. |
Structural determination (NTD fold), Co-immunoprecipitation, optogenetic condensate platform, FLIM-FRET, immunofluorescence, mutagenesis |
Nucleic acids research |
Medium |
40498077
|
| 2024 |
Nek2A interacts with KIF2C (identified by TurboID proximity labeling and confirmed by Co-immunoprecipitation and colocalization). KIF2C silencing diminishes Nek2A's ability to prevent centrosome clustering, placing KIF2C downstream of Nek2A in the centrosome clustering/anti-clustering pathway. |
TurboID proximity labeling, Co-immunoprecipitation, siRNA knockdown epistasis, immunofluorescence colocalization |
Cell death & disease |
Low |
38493150
|
| 2024 |
CCDC69 microtubule depolymerization activity is dependent on KIF2C, as demonstrated by the finding that a fraction of CCDC69 localizes to centromeres and KIF2C mediates CCDC69's depolymerization effects. CCDC69 also regulates stability of the chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) by protecting its members from degradation. |
Overexpression, siRNA epistasis, immunofluorescence colocalization, microtubule depolymerization assays |
Scientific reports |
Low |
39638803
|