kinesin complex

Definition

Target type: cellularcomponent

Any complex that includes a dimer of molecules from the kinesin superfamily, a group of related proteins that contain an extended region of predicted alpha-helical coiled coil in the main chain that likely produces dimerization. The native complexes of several kinesin family members have also been shown to contain additional peptides, often designated light chains as all of the noncatalytic subunits that are currently known are smaller than the chain that contains the motor unit. Kinesin complexes generally possess a force-generating enzymatic activity, or motor, which converts the free energy of the gamma phosphate bond of ATP into mechanical work. [GOC:mah, http://www.proweb.org/kinesin//KinesinMotility.html, http://www.proweb.org/kinesin//KinesinStructure.html]

The kinesin complex is a molecular motor that uses the energy from ATP hydrolysis to move along microtubules. The cellular component of the kinesin complex is a complex assembly of proteins that includes the following:

- **Kinesin heavy chains:** These are the motor proteins that bind to microtubules and move along them. They consist of a globular head domain that binds to microtubules, a neck linker that connects the head domain to the tail domain, and a tail domain that binds to cargo.

- **Kinesin light chains:** These proteins are associated with the tail domain of the kinesin heavy chain and help to link the kinesin complex to cargo. They are thought to regulate the activity of the kinesin motor.

- **Other accessory proteins:** These proteins can be associated with the kinesin complex, and they may have a role in regulating the activity of the complex, stabilizing its structure, or targeting it to specific locations in the cell.

The specific composition of the kinesin complex can vary depending on the type of kinesin and the cargo it is transporting. However, the basic structure of the complex is always the same: two kinesin heavy chains, two kinesin light chains, and a variety of other accessory proteins.

The kinesin complex is essential for a wide variety of cellular processes, including organelle transport, cell division, and cell migration. It is also involved in many diseases, such as cancer and neurodegenerative disorders.'
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Proteins (5)

Compounds (29)