Neurons depend on intracellular transport to establish the distinct identities of axons and dendrites, yet how cargo is targeted to specific compartments remains unclear. This dissertation examines whether kinesin motor proteins preferentially translocate along distinct subsets of microtubules in cultured hippocampal neurons. Using constitutively active, fluorescently tagged kinesins, the study compares Kif1A and Kif5C localization. While Kif1A accumulates in all neurites, Kif5C selectively localizes to axons, a preference lost with taxol treatment. These findings suggest kinesin‑specific microtubule tracks contribute to axonal specification and identify Kif5C as a novel marker of neuronal polarity.
