title: Dynein at the cortex.
abstract: Cytoplasmic dynein is a minus end directed microtubule motor protein with numerous functions during interphase and mitosis. Recent evidence has identified several roles mediated by a fraction of cytoplasmic dynein associated with the cell cortex. So far, these include nuclear migration, mitotic spindle orientation, and cytoskeletal reorientation during wound healing, but others are likely. The possibility that a cortically bound form of dynein might represent its most ancient evolutionary state is discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Biotech 4, Suite 312, 377 Plantation Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01605, USA.
authors.forename: Denis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Dujardin
authors.forename: Richard B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Vallee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D000072159:Dynactin Complex; D004398:Dyneins / Q000502:physiology*; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000072159:Dynactin Complex; D008869:Microtubule-Associated Proteins; D020409:Molecular Motor Proteins; D004398:Dyneins