title: Genetic analysis of the cytoplasmic dynein subunit families.
abstract: Cytoplasmic dyneins, the principal microtubule minus-end-directed motor proteins of the cell, are involved in many essential cellular processes. The major form of this enzyme is a complex of at least six protein subunits, and in mammals all but one of the subunits are encoded by at least two genes. Here we review current knowledge concerning the subunits, their interactions, and their functional roles as derived from biochemical and genetic analyses. We also carried out extensive database searches to look for new genes and to clarify anomalies in the databases. Our analysis documents evolutionary relationships among the dynein subunits of mammals and other model organisms, and sheds new light on the role of this diverse group of proteins, highlighting the existence of two cytoplasmic dynein complexes with distinct cellular roles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA. kkp9w@virginia.edu
authors.forename: K Kevin
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Pfister
authors.forename: Paresh R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hummerich
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Russ
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cotton
authors.forename: Azlina Ahmad
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Annuar
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Elizabeth M C
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Fisher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019556:COS Cells; D002696:Chlamydomonas / Q000378:metabolism; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism*; D056445:Cytoplasmic Dyneins; D004398:Dyneins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008870:Microtubules / Q000737:chemistry; D008957:Models, Genetic; D005810:Multigene Family
chemical_list: C511240:DYNC1H1 protein, human; C099883:DYNC2H1 protein, human; D056445:Cytoplasmic Dyneins; D004398:Dyneins