查看文章

Kinesin light chain 3 (KLC3) is the only known kinesin light chain expressed in post-meiotic male germ cells. We have reported that in rat spermatids KLC3 associates with outer dense fibers and mitochondrial sheath. KLC3 is able to bind to mitochondria in vitro and in vivo employing the conserved tetratrico-peptide repeat kinesin light chain motif. The temporal expression and association of KLC3 with mitochondria coincides with the stage in spermatogenesis when mitochondria move from the spermatid cell periphery to the developing midpiece suggesting a role in midpiece formation. In fibroblasts, expression of KLC3 results in formation of large KLC3 aggregates close to the nucleus that contain mitochondria. However, the molecular basis of the aggregation of mitochondria by KLC3 and its role in sperm tail midpiece formation are not clear. Here we show that KLC3 expression from an inducible system causes …