The kinesin motors are important in the regulation of cellular functions such as protein trafficking, spindle organization and centrosome separation. In this study, we have identified POPX2, a serine-threonine phosphatase, as an interacting partner of the KAP3 subunit of the kinesin-2 motor. The kinesin-2 motor is a heterotrimeric complex composed of KIF3A, KIF3B motor subunits and KAP3, the non-motor subunit, which binds the cargo. Here we report that the phosphatase POPX2 is a negative regulator of the trafficking of N-cadherin and other cargoes; consequently, it markedly influences cell-cell adhesion. POPX2 affects trafficking by determining the phosphorylation status of KIF3A at serine 690. This is consistent with the observation that the KIF3A-S690A mutant is defective in cargo trafficking. Our studies also implicate CaMKII as the kinase that phosphorylates KIF3A at serine 690. These results strongly suggest that POPX2 and CaMKII are a phosphatase-kinase pair that regulates kinesin-mediated transport and cell-cell adhesion.
Keywords: Calcium-calmodulin kinase; Kinesin-2 motor; N-cadherin; POPX2 phosphatase.