REVIEWARTICLE The novel functions of kinesin motor proteins in plants

Abstract Kinesin superfamily proteins are important microtubule-based motor proteins with a kinesin motor domain that is conserved among all eukaryotic organisms. They are responsible for unidirectionally transporting various cargos, including membranous organelles, protein complexes, and mRNAs. They also play critical roles in mitosis, morpho-genesis, and signal transduction. Most kinesins in plants are evolutionarily divergent from their counterparts in animals and fungi. The mitotic kinesins in the plant kinesin-5 and kinesin-14 subfamilies appear to be similar to those in fungi and animals. However, others with nonmotor sequences are unique to plants. The kinesins affect microtubule organiza-tion, organelle distribution, vesicle transport, and cellulose microfibril order. Ultimately, plant kinesins contribute directly or indirectly to cell division and cell growth in various tissues. Here, we review a novel function of kinesins with transcrip-tion activation activity in regulating gibberellin biosynthesis and cell growth. These findings will open exciting new areas of kinesin research