### KIF11 Gene Overview

**Gene Symbol:** KIF11  
**Gene Description:** KIF11 encodes a motor protein that is part of the kinesin-like protein family, which is essential for various spindle dynamics, specifically during cell mitosis, including chromosome positioning, centrosome separation, and establishing a bipolar spindle. Additionally, in non-mitotic cells, KIF11 is required for the transport of secretory proteins from the Golgi complex to the cell surface.

### 1. Associated Genes
KIF11 is associated with several key genes involved in mitosis and transport processes, including:

- **AURKA (Aurora Kinase A)**: Involved in the regulation of spindle assembly.
- **KIF2C (Kinesin Family Member 2C)**: Another kinesin motor protein involved in spindle dynamics.
- **CDC20 (Cell Division Cycle 20)**: A key regulator of the anaphase-promoting complex, essential for mitosis.
- **BUB1 (BUB1 Mitotic Checkpoint Serine/Threonine Kinase)**: A crucial player in the spindle checkpoint, ensuring proper chromosome segregation.

### 2. Aging and Age-Related Diseases
The KIF11 gene plays a significant role in cell division, and disturbances in its function can lead to genomic instability. This instability is a contributing factor to several age-related diseases, such as:

- **Cancer**: Inaccurate chromosome segregation due to KIF11 malfunction can result in aneuploidy, a hallmark of many cancers.
- **Neurodegenerative Diseases**: Studies have shown that impaired microtubule dynamics are linked to age-related neurodegeneration, suggesting a potential role for KIF11 in diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's.

Research into the specific role of KIF11 in aging is still ongoing, with the implications of its function in cellular senescence and the aging process being of considerable interest.

### 3. Drug Interactions
KIF11 is a target for several drugs and drug classes, particularly those aimed at treating cancers by disrupting mitotic processes:

- **Kinesin Inhibitors**: Compounds such as **ENMD-1198**, which inhibit kinesin proteins, disrupting mitotic spindle function in cancer cells.
- **Taxanes** (e.g., **Paclitaxel**): While primarily targeting microtubules, they can indirectly affect kinesin functions.
- **Vincristine and Vinblastine**: These vinca alkaloids disrupt microtubule dynamics and can impact KIF11's role in mitotic spindle formation.

### 4. Pathways and Biological Processes
KIF11 is involved in multiple biological processes, including but not limited to:

- **Mitosis**: Essential for the correct formation and functioning of the mitotic spindle.
- **Cytokinesis**: Contributes to the physical separation of daughter cells at the end of cell division.
- **Transport processes**: In non-mitotic cells, the gene plays a role in the trafficking of organelles and proteins, particularly from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane.
- **Microtubule regulation**: KIF11 is involved in the dynamics and organization of microtubules that are crucial for various cellular processes.

**Pathway involvement includes:**
- **SPINDLE ASSEMBLY CHECKPOINT**: Regulates the timing of progression through mitosis.
- **MICROTUBULE ORGANIZATION**: Plays a key role in microtubule stability and organization, critical for accurate chromosome segregation.

In summary, KIF11 is an integral gene in the process of cell division and transport mechanisms, with implications in cancer and potentially age-related diseases, implicated with specific interactions with drugs aimed at those conditions.