Cryo-EM Reveals How Human Cytoplasmic Dynein Is Auto-inhibited and Activated

Overview

Journal Cell

Publisher Cell Press

Specialty Cell Biology

Date 2017 Jun 13

PMID 28602352

Citations 143

Authors

Kai Zhang

Helen E Foster

Arnaud Rondelet

Samuel E Lacey

Nadia Bahi-Buisson

Alexander W Bird

Andrew P Carter

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cytoplasmic dynein-1 binds dynactin and cargo adaptor proteins to form a transport machine capable of long-distance processive movement along microtubules. However, it is unclear why dynein-1 moves poorly on its own or how it is activated by dynactin. Here, we present a cryoelectron microscopy structure of the complete 1.4-megadalton human dynein-1 complex in an inhibited state known as the phi-particle. We reveal the 3D structure of the cargo binding dynein tail and show how self-dimerization of the motor domains locks them in a conformation with low microtubule affinity. Disrupting motor dimerization with structure-based mutagenesis drives dynein-1 into an open form with higher affinity for both microtubules and dynactin. We find the open form is also inhibited for movement and that dynactin relieves this by reorienting the motor domains to interact correctly with microtubules. Our model explains how dynactin binding to the dynein-1 tail directly stimulates its motor activity.

Citing Articles

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