Association of the kinesin motor KIF1A with the multimodular protein liprin-α

Liprin-α/SYD-2 is a multimodular scaffolding protein important for presynaptic differentiation and postsynaptic targeting of α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid glutamate receptors. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these functions remain largely unknown. Here we report that liprin-α interacts with the neuron-specific kinesin motor KIFIA. KIF1A colocalizes with liprin-α in various subcellular regions of neurons. KIF1A coaccumulates with liprin-α in ligated sciatic nerves. KIF1A cofractionates and coimmunopreciptates with liprin-α and various liprinα-associated membrane, signaling, and scaffolding proteins including α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazoleproprionic acid receptors, GRIP/ABP, RIM, GIT1, and βPIX. These results suggest that liprin-α functions as a KIF1A receptor, linking KIF1A to various liprin-αassociated proteins for their transport in neurons.