It contributes to virtually every step in cytokinesis,[1] It is highly conserved in animal cells as a component of the spindle midzone and midbody.
[1][2] This complex is also implicated in tethering the spindle apparatus to the plasma membrane during cytokinesis[4] This interaction permits cleavage furrow ingression.
[2][5] Centralspindlin oligomerizes in order to link the mitotic spindle with the plasma membrane[1] The sequences mediating interactions between KIF23 and RacGAP1 are highly variable between species.
However, a high affinity interaction between these subunits is essential for the proper functioning of the Centralspindlin complex.
[5] KIF23 interacts with microtubules at sites of overlap,[2] linking the centralspindlin complex to the mitotic spindle.