The functional organization of microtubules in eukaryotic cells requires a combination of their inherent dynamic properties, interactions with motor machineries, and interactions with accessory proteins to affect growth, shrinkage, stability, and architecture. In most organisms, the Kinesin-8 family of motors play an integral role in these organizations, well known for their mitotic activities in microtubule (MT) length control and kinetochore interactions. In Dictyostelium discoideum, the function of Kinesin-8 remains elusive. We present here some biochemical properties and localization data that indicate that this motor (DdKif10) shares some motility properties with other Kinesin-8s but also illustrates differences in microtubule localization and depolymerase action that highlight functional diversity.
Keywords: Dictyostelium; cell motility; kinesin; microtubules.