Kinesin-like protein KIF1A, also known as axonal transporter of synaptic vesicles or microtubule-based motor KIF1A, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the KIF1Agene.[5][6][7]
KIF1A is a neuron-specific member of the kinesin-3 family and is a microtubule plus end-directed motor protein involved in the anterograde, long-distance transport of vesicles and organelles. Similar to other kinesin proteins, KIF1A harnesses the chemical energy released from Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis to create mechanical force, allowing it to “walk” along microtubule filaments to transport cargo from the neuron cell body to its periphery. With an important role in the brain, KIF1A function is essential for physiological processes, such as neuronal survival and higher brain function.[8]