Kinesin

Kinesin is a type of motor protein that plays a critical role in intracellular transport by moving along microtubules in cells. It is essential for the proper distribution of organelles, proteins, and vesicles within the cell. Kinesins typically move from the center of the cell towards its periphery, a directionality that is key to many of their functions, including mitosis and meiosis. Each kinesin molecule converts chemical energy from ATP hydrolysis into mechanical work, enabling it to "walk" along microtubules. Due to its fundamental role in cell division and transport, kinesin is a potential target for drug development, particularly in treating cancer, where inhibition of kinesin may disrupt the proliferation of cancer cells.