Kinesins in Caenorhabditis elegans neuronal morphogenesis.

Neuronal morphogenesis is regulated by intracellular transport and cytoskeletal dynamics. Kinesin superfamily proteins (KIFs), or kinesins, function as molecular motors for intracellular transport and as regulators of the microtubule cytoskeleton, making them essential for neuronal development. Caenorhabditis elegans has been widely used as a model organism to study neuronal morphogenesis. Due to the critical roles of kinesins in neuronal functions, numerous kinesin mutants, including unique gain-of-function mutants and temperature-sensitive mutants, have been identified through forward genetic screens in C. elegans. The availability of whole-genome knockout resources and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing has further enabled precise genetic analysis, facilitating the modelling of human kinesin-related diseases in C. elegans. In this review, we discuss the functions of C. elegans kinesins in neuronal morphogenesis, focusing on their roles in neuronal transport and cytoskeletal regulations.