Kinesin-binding protein remodels the kinesin motor to prevent microtubule-binding

ABSTRACT Kinesins are tightly regulated in space and time to control their activation in the absence of cargo-binding. Kinesin-binding protein (KIFBP) was recently discovered to bind the catalytic motor heads of 8 of the 45 known kinesin superfamily members and inhibit binding to microtubules. In humans, mutation of KIFBP gives rise to Goldberg-Shprintzen syndrome (GOSHS), but the kinesin(s) that is misregulated to produce clinical features of the disease is not known. Understanding the structural mechanism by which KIFBP selects its kinesin binding partners will be key to unlocking this knowledge. Using a combination of cryo-electron microscopy and crosslinking mass spectrometry, we determined structures of KIFBP alone and in complex with two mitotic kinesins, revealing regions of KIFBP that participate in complex formation. KIFBP adopts an alpha-helical solenoid structure composed of TPR repeats. We find that KIFBP uses a 2-pronged mechanism to remodel kinesin motors and block microtubule-binding. First, KIFBP engages the microtubule-binding interface and sterically blocks interaction with microtubules. Second, KIFBP induces allosteric conformational changes to the kinesin motor head that displace a key structural element in the kinesin motor head (α-helix 4) required for microtubule binding. We identified two regions of KIFBP necessary for in vitro kinesin-binding as well as cellular regulation during mitosis. Taken together, this work establishes the mechanism of kinesin inhibition by KIFBP and provides the first example of motor domain remodeling as a means to abrogate kinesin activity.