Consistent with an obstacle navigation role for KIF18A's neck linker in cells, reducing the microtubule-bundling protein HURP or the kinetochore mesh component TACC3 allows KIF18A sNL to accumulate at the plus-ends of central K-fibers, whereas increased hepatoma-upregulated protein (HURP) expression inhibits accumulation of the wild-type motor. This evidence concerns the gene KIF18A and hepatocellular carcinoma.