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Cytoplasmic dynein-associated structures move bidirectionally in vivo
1Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Center for Genetic Medicine, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois 60611, USA.
Journal of Cell Science
|March 16, 2002
Summary
Cytoplasmic dynein motors move intracellular cargo along microtubules. Their stable association with cargo suggests motor activity, not binding, regulates bidirectional transport direction.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Motors
- Cytoskeletal Dynamics
Background:
- Intracellular transport relies on molecular motors like cytoplasmic dynein and kinesin acting on microtubules.
- The precise mechanism controlling bidirectional vesicle movement remains unclear.
- Little is known about motor protein traffic and its correlation with cargo movement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamics of cytoplasmic dynein in living cells.
- To understand how dynein motor traffic relates to intracellular cargo movement and directionality.
Main Methods:
- Studied cytoplasmic dynein dynamics in living Dictyostelium cells.
- Utilized dynein intermediate chain-green fluorescent protein (IC-GFP) fusion in an IC-null background.
- Observed dynein-associated structures and their movement along microtubules.
Main Results:
- Dynein-associated structures exhibited bidirectional movement along microtubules at motor-like velocities.
- Dynein puncta frequently reversed direction.
- Dynein remained stably associated with cargo exhibiting bidirectional or reversing movement.
Conclusions:
- Directional intracellular transport is likely regulated by switching motor activity, not by altering motor-cargo association.
- Both plus- and minus-end-directed motors may associate with the same cargo.
- Coordinated regulation of motor activity governs vesicle directionality.