High impact information on unc-104

• unc-104 encodes a novel kinesin paralog that may act as a microtubule-based motor in the nervous system [1].
• Neuronal cell lineages and axonogenesis are normal in unc-104 null mutants, but axons have few synaptic vesicles and make only a few small synapses [1].
• The C. elegans unc-104 gene encodes a putative kinesin heavy chain-like protein [2].
• Among them KIF1A, a murine homologue of unc-104 gene of Caenorhabditis elegans, is a unique monomeric neuron- specific microtubule plus end-directed motor and has been proposed as a transporter of synaptic vesicle precursors (Okada, Y., H. Yamazaki, Y. Sekine-Aizawa, and N. Hirokawa. 1995. Cell. 81:769-780) [3].
• Dynamin localization was not affected by disrupting axonal transport of synaptic vesicles in the unc-104 (kinesin) mutant [4].

Biological context of unc-104

• Kinesin-related gene unc-104 is required for axonal transport of synaptic vesicles in C. elegans [1].
• DNA sequence analysis of unc-104 cDNAs revealed an open reading frame capable of encoding a 1584 amino acid protein with similarities to kinesin heavy chain [2].

Anatomical context of unc-104

• Mutants lacking the unc-104 kinesin motor protein were defective for anterograde movement of dense-core vesicle components, including egl-3 PC2, egl-21 CPE, and FaRPs [5].

References