ABSTRACT
The Kinesin-16 family is a group of kinesins found in organisms that build cilia or flagella. Phylogenetic analysis of the kinesin superfamily shows that Kinesin-16s are found only in organisms that build cilia or flagella, suggesting a possible role in building the axoneme or in intra-flagellar transport. A study of KIF12 knockout mice indicates a role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, possibly via an influence on insulin secretion, suggesting that dysfunction of KIF12 may be involved in the progression of certain types of diabetes. A quantitative transcriptomics analysis of all major human organs showed that KIF12 RNA is expressed at a high level in the kidney and at moderately high levels in the pancreas, gall bladder, thyroid gland and small intestine.
