Cytoplasmic Dynein and Cell Polarity

Cytoplasmic dynein is a microtubule-based motor protein that plays a vital role in cellular trafficking and cell polarity by directionally transporting molecules (cargoes) to specific parts of the cell. How each dynein selects its specific cargo and regulates binding (and release) is a long-standing question. An increasing number of diseases have been linked to protein mislocalization and motor protein malfunction.