Characterization of magnesium dependent adenosine 5'-triphosphatase in bovine brain cytoplasmic dynein

The Mg2(+)-ATPase activity of cytoplasmic dynein isolated from bovine brain was examined in the absence of microtubules. Cytoplasmic dynein in the absence of microtubules showed Mg2(+)-ATPase activity with two distinct Km values, 272 microM and 11.8 microM. The initial burst of Pi liberation, which was due to occurrence of slow decomposition of reaction intermediate, was 0.67 mol per mol of cytoplasmic dynein. These results indicate that Mg2(+)-ATPase reaction of cytoplasmic dynein in the absence of microtubules is similar to that of flagellar and ciliary dyneins which have been shown not to hydrolyze ATP via a single pathway.