In a recent collaboration with Joe Cockburn et al published in Structure – we reveal the structure of the cargo binding TPR domain of kinesin light chain bound to the cargo molecule JIP3. Along with solving the crystal structure – the biophysical and evolutionary analysis we carried out have revealed the kinesin-1 cargo binding site is conserved right across the metazoa from sponges to humans. We propose a mechanism by which multiple, unrelated cellular cargo molecules can “hotwire” the kinesin-1 molecule into motility.
Link to the paper here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969212618302570?via%3Dihub
Citation: Cockburn JJB, Hesketh, SJ, Mulhair PJ, O’Connell MJ, and Way M. “Insights into Kinesin-1 activation from the crystal structure of KLC2 bound to JIP3.” Structure (Cell Press) 2018 Nov 6;26(11):1486-1498.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.str.2018.07.011.
