KIFAP3 Gene

Name	kinesin-associated protein 3
Description	The small G protein GDP dissociation stimulator (smg GDS) is a regulator protein having two activities on a group of small G proteins including the Rho and Rap1 family members and Ki-Ras; one is to stimulate their GDP/GTP exchange reactions, and the other is to inhibit their interactions with membranes. The protein encoded by this gene contains 9 'Armadillo' repeats and interacts with the smg GDS protein through these repeats. This protein, which is highly concentrated around the endoplasmic reticulum, is phosphorylated by v-src, and this phosphorylation reduces the affinity of the protein for smg GDS. It is thought that this protein serves as a linker between human chromosome-associated polypeptide (HCAP) and KIF3A/B, a kinesin superfamily protein in the nucleus, and that it plays a role in the interaction of chromosomes with an ATPase motor protein. Several transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene. [provided by RefSeq, Mar 2011]
Summary	{"type": "root", "children": [{"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n KIFAP3 (also known as the kinesin‐associated protein 3 or KAP3) is an essential accessory subunit of the heterotrimeric kinesin‐2 motor complex that functions to link the motor’s catalytic subunits (KIF3A and KIF3B) to diverse cargoes. Multiple studies have demonstrated that KIFAP3 is critical for intracellular trafficking in many cell types. For example, its interaction with the tumor suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) is required for transporting APC along microtubules, a process that underlies aspects of cell–cell adhesion and directed cell motility in migrating cells."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "1"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " In neurons, KIFAP3 plays a role in the proper delivery of key cargoes; mutant forms of SOD1 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) sequester KIFAP3 and disrupt the axonal transport of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), thereby contributing to motor neuron dysfunction."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "2"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Moreover, studies in non‐neuronal cells have shown that KIFAP3 is required for the proper steady‐state localization of late endosomes/lysosomes, and it is implicated in processes as diverse as mitosis, through ensuring correct spindle formation and chromosome segregation."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "3"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ""}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n In additional contexts, KIFAP3 couples the motor complex to specific cargos including viral capsid–tegument assemblies during viral egress"}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "5"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "and endocytic receptors in renal tubular cells, thereby influencing receptor-mediated uptake and trafficking."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "6"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Regulation of kinesin-2 function by associated regulators further highlights the role of KIFAP3 in controlling motor activity. For instance, phosphatases such as DUSP26 and POPX2 interact with components of the complex (including KIFAP3) to modulate the phosphorylation status and consequently the trafficking of cargoes such as the β-catenin–N-cadherin complex."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "7"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Similarly, in the context of signaling, KIFAP3 is instrumental for the transport of GLI transcription factors, thereby contributing to the regulation of Hedgehog signaling"}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "9"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "and for the targeted delivery of proteins such as TRIM46 during the formation of the axon initial segment."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "10"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}]}, {"type": "t", "text": "\n "}, {"type": "p", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "\n Genetic association studies have further implicated KIFAP3 as a disease‐modifying factor. A variant within the KIFAP3 gene was initially associated with increased survival among ALS patients"}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "11"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": ", although subsequent replication efforts have provided complex results, highlighting the multifactorial nature of the disease."}, {"type": "fg", "children": [{"type": "fg_f", "ref": "12"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " Collectively, these findings underscore that KIFAP3 functions as a versatile cargo adaptor that orchestrates microtubule‐dependent transport processes, thereby influencing cell polarity, division, signal transduction, and even disease progression.\n "}]}, {"type": "rg", "children": [{"type": "r", "ref": 1, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Takeshi Jimbo, Yoshihiro Kawasaki, Ryo Koyama, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Identification of a link between the tumour suppressor APC and the kinesin superfamily."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Nat Cell Biol (2002)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1038/ncb779"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb779"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "11912492"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11912492"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 2, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Minako Tateno, Shinsuke Kato, Takashi Sakurai, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Mutant SOD1 impairs axonal transport of choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholine release by sequestering KAP3."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Hum Mol Genet (2009)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1093/hmg/ddn422"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddn422"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "19088126"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19088126"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 3, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Christa L Brown, Kerstin C Maier, Tobias Stauber, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Kinesin-2 is a motor for late endosomes and lysosomes."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Traffic (2005)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1111/j.1600-0854.2005.00347.x"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0854.2005.00347.x"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "16262723"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16262723"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 4, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Keiko Haraguchi, Tomoatsu Hayashi, Takeshi Jimbo, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Role of the kinesin-2 family protein, KIF3, during mitosis."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "J Biol Chem (2006)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1074/jbc.M507028200"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M507028200"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "16298999"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16298999"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 5, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Narayanan Sathish, Fan Xiu Zhu, Yan Yuan "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus ORF45 interacts with kinesin-2 transporting viral capsid-tegument complexes along microtubules."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "PLoS Pathog (2009)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1371/journal.ppat.1000332"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1000332"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "19282970"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19282970"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 6, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Anita A C Reed, Nellie Y Loh, Sara Terryn, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "CLC-5 and KIF3B interact to facilitate CLC-5 plasma membrane expression, endocytosis, and microtubular transport: relevance to pathophysiology of Dent's disease."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Am J Physiol Renal Physiol (2010)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1152/ajprenal.00038.2009"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1152/ajprenal.00038.2009"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "19940036"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19940036"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 7, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "N Tanuma, M Nomura, M Ikeda, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Protein phosphatase Dusp26 associates with KIF3 motor and promotes N-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Oncogene (2009)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1038/onc.2008.431"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2008.431"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "19043453"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19043453"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 8, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Hui-Qun Phang, Jing-Ling Hoon, Soak-Kuan Lai, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "POPX2 phosphatase regulates the KIF3 kinesin motor complex."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "J Cell Sci (2014)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1242/jcs.126482"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.126482"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "24338362"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24338362"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 9, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Brandon S Carpenter, Renee L Barry, Kristen J Verhey, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "The heterotrimeric kinesin-2 complex interacts with and regulates GLI protein function."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "J Cell Sci (2015)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1242/jcs.162552"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.162552"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "25588831"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25588831"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 10, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Sotaro Ichinose, Tadayuki Ogawa, Xuguang Jiang, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "The Spatiotemporal Construction of the Axon Initial Segment via KIF3/KAP3/TRIM46 Transport under MARK2 Signaling."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Cell Rep (2019)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1016/j.celrep.2019.07.093"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.07.093"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "31461655"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31461655"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 11, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "John E Landers, Judith Melki, Vincent Meininger, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Reduced expression of the Kinesin-Associated Protein 3 (KIFAP3) gene increases survival in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2009)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1073/pnas.0812937106"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0812937106"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "19451621"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19451621"}]}, {"type": "r", "ref": 12, "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Bryan J Traynor, Michael Nalls, Shiao-Lin Lai, et al. "}, {"type": "b", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Kinesin-associated protein 3 (KIFAP3) has no effect on survival in a population-based cohort of ALS patients."}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " "}, {"type": "i", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A (2010)"}]}, {"type": "t", "text": " DOI: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "10.1073/pnas.0914079107"}], "href": "https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0914079107"}, {"type": "t", "text": " PMID: "}, {"type": "a", "children": [{"type": "t", "text": "20566859"}], "href": "https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20566859"}]}]}]}
Synonyms	KAP-1, KAP-3, DJ190I16.1, FLA3, KAP3, SMG-GDS
Proteins	KIFA3_HUMAN
NCBI Gene ID	22920
API
Download Associations
Predicted Functions
Co-expressed Genes
Expression in Tissues and Cell Lines

Functional Associations

KIFAP3 has 7,280 functional associations with biological entities spanning 9 categories (molecular profile, organism, chemical, functional term, phrase or reference, disease, phenotype or trait, structural feature, cell line, cell type or tissue, gene, protein or microRNA, sequence feature) extracted from 138 datasets.

Click the + buttons to view associations for KIFAP3 from the datasets below.

If available, associations are ranked by standardized value

Harmonizome 3.0

KIFAP3 Gene

Functional Associations

Please acknowledge the Harmonizome in your publications by citing the following reference(s):

	Dataset	Summary
	Allen Brain Atlas Adult Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of KIFAP3 gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Adult Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Adult Mouse Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of KIFAP3 gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Adult Mouse Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Aging Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury Tissue Sample Gene Expression Profiles	tissue samples with high or low expression of KIFAP3 gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Aging Dementia and Traumatic Brain Injury Tissue Sample Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by Microarray	tissue samples with high or low expression of KIFAP3 gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by Microarray dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by RNA-seq	tissue samples with high or low expression of KIFAP3 gene relative to other tissue samples from the Allen Brain Atlas Developing Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles by RNA-seq dataset.
	Allen Brain Atlas Prenatal Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	tissues with high or low expression of KIFAP3 gene relative to other tissues from the Allen Brain Atlas Prenatal Human Brain Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	BioGPS Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles	cell lines with high or low expression of KIFAP3 gene relative to other cell lines from the BioGPS Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	BioGPS Human Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	cell types and tissues with high or low expression of KIFAP3 gene relative to other cell types and tissues from the BioGPS Human Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	BioGPS Mouse Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles	cell types and tissues with high or low expression of KIFAP3 gene relative to other cell types and tissues from the BioGPS Mouse Cell Type and Tissue Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	Carcinogenome Chemical Perturbation Carcinogenicity Signatures	small molecule perturbations changing expression of KIFAP3 gene from the Carcinogenome Chemical Perturbation Carcinogenicity Signatures dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles	cell lines with high or low copy number of KIFAP3 gene relative to other cell lines from the CCLE Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles	cell lines with high or low expression of KIFAP3 gene relative to other cell lines from the CCLE Cell Line Gene Expression Profiles dataset.
	CCLE Cell Line Proteomics	Cell lines associated with KIFAP3 protein from the CCLE Cell Line Proteomics dataset.
	CellMarker Gene-Cell Type Associations	cell types associated with KIFAP3 gene from the CellMarker Gene-Cell Type Associations dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles	transcription factor binding site profiles with transcription factor binding evidence at the promoter of KIFAP3 gene from the CHEA Transcription Factor Binding Site Profiles dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Targets	transcription factors binding the promoter of KIFAP3 gene in low- or high-throughput transcription factor functional studies from the CHEA Transcription Factor Targets dataset.
	ChEA Transcription Factor Targets 2022	transcription factors binding the promoter of KIFAP3 gene in low- or high-throughput transcription factor functional studies from the CHEA Transcription Factor Targets 2022 dataset.
	CM4AI KOLF21J CRISPRi Gene Perturbation Atlas	gene perturbations changing expression of KIFAP3 gene from the CM4AI KOLF21J CRISPRi Gene Perturbation Atlas dataset.
	CM4AI U2OS Cell Map Protein Localization Assemblies	assemblies containing KIFAP3 protein from integrated AP-MS and IF data from the CM4AI U2OS Cell Map Protein Localization Assemblies dataset.
	CMAP Signatures of Differentially Expressed Genes for Small Molecules	small molecule perturbations changing expression of KIFAP3 gene from the CMAP Signatures of Differentially Expressed Genes for Small Molecules dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components containing KIFAP3 protein from the COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components containing KIFAP3 protein from the COMPARTMENTS Curated Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components containing KIFAP3 protein in low- or high-throughput protein localization assays from the COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components containing KIFAP3 protein in low- or high-throughput protein localization assays from the COMPARTMENTS Experimental Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores	cellular components co-occuring with KIFAP3 protein in abstracts of biomedical publications from the COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores dataset.
	COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025	cellular components co-occuring with KIFAP3 protein in abstracts of biomedical publications from the COMPARTMENTS Text-mining Protein Localization Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	CORUM Protein Complexes	protein complexs containing KIFAP3 protein from the CORUM Protein Complexes dataset.
	COSMIC Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles	cell lines with high or low copy number of KIFAP3 gene relative to other cell lines from the COSMIC Cell Line Gene CNV Profiles dataset.
	COSMIC Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles	cell lines with KIFAP3 gene mutations from the COSMIC Cell Line Gene Mutation Profiles dataset.
	CTD Gene-Chemical Interactions	chemicals interacting with KIFAP3 gene/protein from the curated CTD Gene-Chemical Interactions dataset.
	CTD Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with KIFAP3 gene/protein from the curated CTD Gene-Disease Associations dataset.
	dbGAP Gene-Trait Associations	traits associated with KIFAP3 gene in GWAS and other genetic association datasets from the dbGAP Gene-Trait Associations dataset.
	DeepCoverMOA Drug Mechanisms of Action	small molecule perturbations with high or low expression of KIFAP3 protein relative to other small molecule perturbations from the DeepCoverMOA Drug Mechanisms of Action dataset.
	DepMap CRISPR Gene Dependency	cell lines with fitness changed by KIFAP3 gene knockdown relative to other cell lines from the DepMap CRISPR Gene Dependency dataset.
	DEPOD Substrates of Phosphatases	phosphatases that dephosphorylate KIFAP3 protein from the curated DEPOD Substrates of Phosphatases dataset.
	DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores	diseases associated with KIFAP3 gene in GWAS datasets from the DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores dataset.
	DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores 2025	diseases associated with KIFAP3 gene in GWAS datasets from the DISEASES Experimental Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores	diseases co-occuring with KIFAP3 gene in abstracts of biomedical publications from the DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores dataset.
	DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Association Evidence Scores 2025	diseases co-occuring with KIFAP3 gene in abstracts of biomedical publications from the DISEASES Text-mining Gene-Disease Assocation Evidence Scores 2025 dataset.
	DisGeNET Gene-Disease Associations	diseases associated with KIFAP3 gene in GWAS and other genetic association datasets from the DisGeNET Gene-Disease Associations dataset.