High impact information on HIK

• Mutations in the Arabidopsis HINKEL gene cause cytokinesis defects, such as enlarged cells with incomplete cell walls and multiple nuclei [1].
• The Arabidopsis HINKEL gene encodes a kinesin-related protein involved in cytokinesis and is expressed in a cell cycle-dependent manner [1].
• Our results suggest that HINKEL plays a role in the reorganization of phragmoplast microtubules during cell plate formation [1].
• These include the Arabidopsis HINKEL protein and NACK1 and two from tobacco (Nishihama et al., 2002), which are involved in microtubule organization during mitotic cytokinesis [2].
• In these and other respects, the new mutants are phenotypically similar to knolle, keule, hinkel, and pleiade mutants [3].

Biological context of HIK

• Loss-of-function mutations in AtNACK1/HINKEL and STUD/TETRASPORE/AtNACK2 result in the occasional failure of somatic and male-meiotic cytokinesis, respectively [4].
• We describe the phenotypes of Arabidopsis plants that have mutations in both the AtNACK1/HINKEL and STUD/TETRASPORE/AtNACK2 genes [4].
• The genome of Arabidopsis thaliana encodes homologues of NACK1 and NACK2, namely, AtNACK1/HINKEL and STUD/TETRASPORE/AtNACK2, respectively [4].

Other interactions of HIK

• The AtNACK1/HINKEL and STUD/TETRASPORE/AtNACK2 genes for kinesin-like proteins have overlapping functions that are essential for gametogenetic cytokinesis [4].

References