Kif2a belongs to the Kinesin-13 microtubule depolymerase family that includes members Kif2a, Kif2b, and Kif2c. These proteins are capable of depolymerizing microtubules (MTs) at their ends. During mitotic cell division, Kif2a specifically localizes to centrosomes and is essential for chromosome organization at the metaphase plate, spindle dynamics and turnover, and bipolar mitotic spindle formation. From prophase to metaphase, Kif2a is recruited to the spindle microtubule and spindle poles through interactions with the protein PSRC1, and this requires Polo-like kinase (PLK1). Blocking of Kif2a function either through siRNA knockdown in human cancer cells or antibody blocking in Xenopus eggs leads to the formation of improper monopolar spindles and cell cycle block. Kif2a has been shown to be essential for proper neuronal outgrowth and normal brain development. Ferenz, et. al. used the Kif2a antibody in their fluorescent protein movement studies to help formulate their theory on what mechanism causes the significant reduction in rate and directionality of microtubule motion during prophase to metaphase (1). Another movement study involving Kif2a antibody focused on characterizing the newly identified DDA3 regulator and how it affects spindle dynamics in mitotic progression (2). Their findings suggest that DDA3 is a new class of MT-destabilizing protein through MT depolymerase regulation.
Immunocytochemistry/Immunofluorescence: Kif2a Antibody
The antagonistic regulation of Kif2a by PLK1 (positively) and Aurora A (negatively) was mapped out by Jang’s group, through use of the Kif2a antibody (3). Some interesting complementary proteomic profiling data with the Kif2a antibody has also emerged. Protein identification and localization experiments in human centrosomal samples enabled the identification of a novel and unique set of five proteins that were preferentially associated with mother or daughter centrosomes (4). The understanding of centrosomal proteins is greatly enhanced by such spatiotemporal studies. An affinity-based proteomic profile using the Kif2a antibody for antibody suspension bed arrays provided a detailed description of molecular phenotype variations separated into familial versus experimental sources (5).
Novus Biologicals offers Kif2a reagents for your research needs including:
