KIF20A cooperates with Myosin II to drive endosomal carriers fission and protein trafficking

Abstract

Formation of membrane transport carrier relies on cytoskeleton coordination, however how microtubules and actin dynamics cooperate is still poorly understood. In this study, we reveal a novel mechanism by which a kinesin, KIF20A, regulates actomyosin and branched actin dynamics in coordination with Myosin II, facilitating the fission of transport intermediates at early endosomes. We demonstrate that KIF20A is required for maintaining endosomal homeostasis as its inhibition results in the enlargement of both early and late endosomes. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that KIF20A is required for the proper trafficking of Transferrin (Tf), and for ensuring the correct plasma membrane localization of {beta}1 Integrin, a key protein that is critical for cell adhesion and migration. Collectively, these results highlight a new pivotal role of KIF20A as a key regulator of endosomal dynamics and function, contributing to metastatic potential.