Kinesin family member C1 (KIFC1)

Kinesin family member C1 (KIFC1) is a member of the kinesin-14 family of minus-end-directed motor proteins encoded by the KIFC1 gene in humans[1][2]. KIFC1 consists of a C-terminal motor domain with ATPase activity, a superhelical stalk, and an N-terminal tail domain, all containing microtubule-binding regions[1][2]. It is critical for microtubule crosslinking, minus-end-directed movement along microtubules, and, most notably, spindle formation during mitosis by clustering supernumerary centrosomes. This function prevents multipolar spindle formation and aneuploidy, supporting chromosomal stability during cell division[2][4][6]. In cancer, KIFC1 is frequently overexpressed, driving tumor cell proliferation and survival and promoting chemo-resistance and genomic instability[2][3][5][6]. Aberrant activity is a marker of poor prognosis in various tumors and a potential therapeutic target, though its essential physiological roles present safety challenges to drug development targeting KIFC1[2][3][6].

Other names

Kinesin-like protein KIFC1HSETKNSL2Kinesin-like 2Kinesin-related protein HSET

Inhibition leads to defects in centrosome clustering in cancer cells, resulting in multipolar spindles and cell death[2][3]. Mitotic catastrophe and impaired chromosomal segregation due to loss of spindle assembly function[3].