dyneindriven

Dyneindriven is an adjective used in cell biology to describe movement or transport powered by dynein, a family of minus-end directed motor proteins that move along microtubules. In most animal cells, dynein-driven transport moves vesicles, organelles, protein complexes, and signaling molecules toward the microtubule minus ends, typically toward the cell center or the base of cilia.

Molecularly, dynein refers to large multi-subunit motor complexes. The cytoplasmic dynein complex consists of heavy chains that contain the ATPase motor domain, along with intermediate, light intermediate, and light chains. Movement is powered by ATP hydrolysis in the motor domain. Dynein often operates with the dynactin complex and cargo-specific adaptors, which recruit dynein to cargo and enhance processivity and specificity. There are two main cytoplasmic dynein classes: dynein-1 (cytoplasmic dynein) for general vesicular and organelle trafficking, and dynein-2 (dynein 2) involved in intraflagellar transport in cilia and flagella.

Biological roles of dyneindriven transport include retrograde axonal transport, positioning of organelles such as the Golgi apparatus, distribution of endosomes and lysosomes, spindle positioning during mitosis, and the assembly and maintenance of cilia and flagella through intraflagellar transport. Transport is tightly regulated by factors such as Lis1 and NudE/NudEL, which modulate dynein activity, and by cargo adaptors that link dynein-dynactin to specific cargo.

Research into dyneindriven processes employs in vitro reconstitution, single-molecule assays, and live-cell imaging. Defects in dynein function can contribute to neurological and developmental disorders, underscoring the importance of dynein-driven transport for cellular and organismal health.