ABSTRACT
The common feature that defines a protein as a member of the kinesin superfamily is the motor domain, which binds both Adenosine triphosphate and microtubules, and confers the nucleotide-dependent interaction with microtubules which is characteristic of all kinesins. Abnormal expression of kinesins involved in mitotic cell division is frequently found in various types of cancer and many kinesins are considered targets for anticancer therapies. Kinesins are also crucial to the formation and function of two major microtubular structures, the cilium and the flagellum, and certain kinesin families are found only in species that possess these structures. Neural cells require close control of microtubule organisation for the formation and functioning of neural processes, such as axons and dendrites.
