What is "catastrophin"

Catastrophin, or KIF2, is a microtubal motor protein which causes destabilization, i.e. increases dynamic instability, of the microtubule plus end. It is specifically a kinesin-like protein with a motor domain situated in the middle portion of its heavy chain. Contrary to probable belief, the catas- prefix is related to the cata- in catabolism while the -troph- is related to the -troph- in atrophy. The -in is merely a suffix many proteins share.