LIFE09200604002 Lalit Sehgal - Homi Bhabha National Institute

KIF5B, however its reduction does not alter the organization of microtubules as
determined by α-tubulin staining in the same cells. (B) The mean fluorescence intensities
at the cell borders or the whole cell were measured for 24 cells in 3 independent
experiments for each immunofluorescence analysis. (Original magnification x 630 with
4X optical zoom).
4.3.15 Recruitment of desmosomal proteins PG and DSC2/3 to cell border is
impaired upon loss of KIF5B.
To test the hypothesis that PG recruitment to the cell surface thus initiating desmosome
formation is dependent on KIF5B, an immunofluorescence experiment was performed
using antibodies to PG, and KIF5B or DSC2/3 and KIF5B followed by confocal
microscopy. PG and DSC2/3 localized to the cell border in the vector control cells but not
in the KIF5B knockdown clones (K1.3 and K1.5) (Figure 4.3.27 (A and B) and Figure
4.3.28 (A and B)). The levels of KIF5B were significantly reduced in the KIF5B
knockdown clones (K1.3 and K1.5) as compared to the vector controls) (Figure 4.3.27 (A
and B) and Figure 4.3.28 (A and B)). These results suggest that KIF5B is required to
recruit PG to cell border to initiate desmosome assembly. Similar experiments are being
performed in mouse testis to determine whether KIF5B is required for cell-cell adhesion
in the testis.
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