cDNA cloning, genomic organization, and chromosomal localization of a novel human gene that encodes a kinesin-related protein highly similar to mouse Kif3C.

We report the cloning and characterization of a novel human kinesin-like gene with strong homology to the mouse kinesin Kif3c. The full-length cDNA contains an open reading frame of 2382 nucleotides encoding a predicted 793 amino acid peptide that includes a 389 amino acid motor domain conserved among other kinesins. PCR and DNA sequence analysis of PAC clones containing the human KIF3C sequence revealed that the gene contains 8 exons. All introns have the conserved GT and AG dinucleotides present at their donor and acceptor sites, respectively. We have localized KIF3C to chromosome band 2p23 by fluorescence in situ hybridization.