Chinese Bulletin of Botany ›› 2022, Vol. 57 ›› Issue (3): 358-374.DOI: 10.11983/CBB22007

• SPECIAL TOPICS • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Plant Kinesin: from Microtubule Arrays to Physiological Regulation

Yunhui Wang, Yifan Wang, Jiayu Lin, Jinhong Li, Shien Yao, Xiangchi Feng, Zhenlin Cao, Jun Wang, Meina Li()   

  1. Innovative Center of Molecular Genetics and Evolution, School of Life Sciences, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
  • Received:2022-01-12 Accepted:2022-02-25 Online:2022-05-01 Published:2022-05-18
  • Contact: Meina Li

Abstract: Kinesins are molecular motors that move along microtubules tracks, catalyze the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP, convert the chemical energy stored in ATP molecules into a mechanical force efficiently, and play important roles in various life activities such as cell morphogenesis, cell division, cell movement, intracellular transport, and signal transduction. Plant kinesin research lag behind that of animals and fungi, not only because plants have evolved a unique kinesin family, but also have more members than that of animals. Here we summarize the most recent advancements made towards understanding kinesin functions in the dynamic organization of microtubule arrays, including cortical microtubules and mitotic pre-prophase band, spindle apparatus and phragmoplast, and the regulation of plant physiological activities. We also performed a systematic analysis, classification and functional prediction of kinesins in soybean, the important cash crop, and found that the numbers of soybean kinesins are largely expanded. Taking advantage of the soybean transcriptome data in the public database, the functions of some soybean kinesins were predicted, to provide some clues for the study of kinesin functions in soybean and other crops.

Key words: kinesin, microtubule arrays, physiological regulation, soybean