Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 14, 2026

Preparation of High-Temperature Sample Grids for Cryo-EM
Published on: July 26, 2021
Cryo-EM shows how dynactin recruits two dyneins for faster movement
Linas Urnavicius1, Clinton K Lau1, Mohamed M Elshenawy2
1Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Division of Structural Studies, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK.
Abstract:
Dynein and its cofactor dynactin form a highly processive microtubule motor in the presence of an activating adaptor, such as BICD2. Different adaptors link dynein and dynactin to distinct cargoes. Here we use electron microscopy and single-molecule studies to show that adaptors can recruit a second dynein to dynactin. Whereas BICD2 is biased towards recruiting a single dynein, the adaptors BICDR1 and HOOK3 predominantly recruit two dyneins. We find that the shift towards a double dynein complex increases both the force and speed of the microtubule motor. Our 3.5 Å resolution cryo-electron microscopy reconstruction of a dynein tail-dynactin-BICDR1 complex reveals how dynactin can act as a scaffold to coordinate two dyneins side-by-side. Our work provides a structural basis for understanding how diverse adaptors recruit different numbers of dyneins and regulate the motile properties of the dynein-dynactin transport machine.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Interaction of EM Radiation with Matter: Spectroscopy
Anatomical Movements
Here are some common anatomical movements:
Flexion and extension motions are in the sagittal (anterior–posterior) plane of motion. These movements take place at the shoulder, hip, elbow, knee, wrist,...
Dual Nature of Electromagnetic (EM) Radiation
Wavelength is the distance between two consecutive peaks (the highest point) or troughs (the lowest point) in the wave. Frequency is the number of...
Cryo-electron Microscopy
The Movement of Organelles and Vesicles
Fluid Movement Between Compartments

