The Hitchdock domain in Kinesin-2 Tail Enables Adaptor Assembly and Cargo Binding

Intracellular transport relies on motor proteins like kinesins to deliver essential cargoes along microtubules, yet the mechanisms of cargo recognition remain unclear. Here, we present high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy structures of the heterotrimeric kinesin-2 complex (KIF3A/KIF3B/KAP3) bound to the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) cargo. Our findings reveal a previously uncharacterized KIF3 tail motif, termed the “Hitchdock domain,” which plays a pivotal role in mediating interactions with both the KAP3 adaptor and the APC cargo. In this domain, the KIF3A helical regions facilitate specific cargo binding, while the β-hairpin region and KIF3B provide structural support. Mutagenesis and molecular dynamics simulations confirm the domain’s functional importance. Interestingly, the Hitchdock/KAP3 structure suggests a conserved structural basis for cargo recognition across molecular motors, including kinesin-1 and dynein, which utilize similar hook-like architectures, highlighting the potential universality of this mechanism. Furthermore, our findings provide insights into kinesin-2 cargo specificity and offer a molecular framework for understanding related diseases.