Kinesin-13 family (Kinesin-13)

The Kinesin-13 family consists of unique motor proteins that function as microtubule depolymerases rather than processive transporters. Unlike most kinesins that move along microtubule tracks to deliver cargo, Kinesin-13 members—including KIF2A, KIF2B, and KIF2C (also known as MCAK)—utilize ATP hydrolysis to catalyze the removal of tubulin subunits from microtubule ends. This activity is essential for the spatial and temporal regulation of microtubule dynamics during mitosis, particularly in spindle assembly, the correction of kinetochore-microtubule attachment errors, and chromosome segregation. In clinical contexts, Kinesin-13 proteins are frequently overexpressed in a variety of malignancies, including lung, breast, and colorectal cancers, where they are associated with poor prognosis and resistance to traditional microtubule-stabilizing drugs like paclitaxel. Because of their critical role in maintaining genomic stability, they are considered attractive therapeutic targets; inhibiting their activity can exacerbate chromosomal instability to lethal levels in cancer cells. Experimental small-molecule inhibitors, such as DHTP, have demonstrated the ability to induce mitotic arrest and apoptosis in preclinical models. Additionally, Kinesin-13 has been identified as an essential factor for the proliferation of the malaria parasite Plasmodium, highlighting its potential as a target for novel anti-infective strategies.

Other names

KIF2 familyMitotic centromere-associated kinesin (MCAK)KIF2CKIF2AKIF2BKIF24Microtubule depolymerizing kinesin

Allosteric inhibition of ATPase activity and microtubule depolymerization activity