KobA mediates kinesin-1-dependent transport of dynein-dynactin to microtubule plus ends

KobA in Aspergillus nidulans is essential for KinA-mediated plus-end accumulation of dynein-dynactin, acting as a kinesin-1-binding adapter that links opposing motors.

• Why it matters: Dynein must reach microtubule plus ends in elongated cells before engaging cargoes, but how kinesin-1 and dynein are functionally connected was unclear.
• What they did: The study identified KobA as a kinesin-1-binding coiled-coil protein that binds the C-terminal cargo-binding domain of KinA; KobA’s Spindly motif was predicted to contact dynactin pointed-end, and motif point mutations disrupted KinA–dynactin association.
• The result: KobA enhances KinA–dynactin–dynein interactions, enabling dynein to accumulate at plus ends rather than decorate microtubules, supporting a Spindly-motif-based linkage mechanism.

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