Dynactin

Dynactin or Dynein activator complex is a multi-subunit protein found in eukaryotic cells that aids in bidirectional intracellular organelle transport by binding to dynein and Kinesin II and linking them to the organelles to be transported.^[1][2]

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Structure and mechanism of action

Dynactin consists of many subunits of which the p150^Glued doublet (encoded by the DCTN1 gene) is the largest and has been found to be essential for function. ^[1] This structure of dynactin is highly conserved in vertebrates. There are three isoforms encoded by a single gene. ^[3]

Dynactin interacts with dynein directly by the binding of dynein intermediate chains with the p150^Glued doublet. ^[4]

Functions

Dynactin is often essential for dynein activity ^[1] and can be thought of as a "dynein receptor"^[4] that modulates binding of dynein to cell organelles which are to be transported along microtubules. ^[5] Dynactin is involved in various processes like chromosome alignment and spindle organization ^[5] in cell division,^[6] maintaining nuclear position^[7] in addition to transport of various organelles in the cytoplasm. Dynactin also links Kinesin II to organelles.

See also

• Motor protein
• Dynein
• DCTN1
• Centractin

References