|http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/ A service of the U.S. National Library
of Medicine®| The official name of this gene is “kinesin family
member 1B.” KIF1B is the gene's official symbol. The KIF1B gene
is also known by other names, listed below. The KIF1B gene
provides instructions for making a protein called kinesin family
member 1B, part of the kinesin family of proteins. These
proteins are essential for the transport of materials within
cells. Kinesin proteins function like freight trains that
transport cargo, and their structure is suited for this cargo-
carrying function. One part of the protein, called the motor
domain, provides the power to move the protein and its cargo
along a track-like system made from structures called
microtubules. Another part of the kinesin protein, which varies
among members of this protein family, binds to specific
materials for transport. Research suggests that the kinesin
family member 1B protein specializes in carrying two types of
cargo. In nerve cells (neurons), this protein transp