DCTN2
Description
The DCTN2 (dynactin subunit 2) is a protein-coding gene located on chromosome 12.
Dynactin subunit 2 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the DCTN2 gene. This gene encodes a 50-kD subunit of dynactin, a macromolecular complex consisting of 23 subunits (11 individual proteins ranging in size from 22 to 150 kD). The subunit is commonly referred to as p50 or dynamitin. Dynactin binds to both microtubules and cytoplasmic dynein. It is involved in a diverse array of cellular functions, including ER-to-Golgi transport, the centripetal movement of lysosomes and endosomes, spindle formation, chromosome movement, nuclear positioning, and axonogenesis. This subunit is present in four copies per dynactin molecule. It contains three short alpha-helical coiled-coil domains that bind to two copies of p150-glued (DCTN1) and two copies of p24 (DCTN3) to form the dynactin shoulder domain. DCTN2 has been shown to interact with MARCKSL1.
DCTN2, also known as dynamitin, is a crucial component of the dynactin complex. This complex plays a vital role in activating the molecular motor dynein, enabling ultra-processive transport along microtubules. DCTN2, located in the dynactin shoulder domain, binds to the ACTR1A filament, acting as a molecular ruler to determine the length of the complex. It modulates the binding of cytoplasmic dynein to organelles, contributing to prometaphase chromosome alignment and spindle organization during mitosis. DCTN2 is also involved in anchoring microtubules to centrosomes and may play a role in synapse formation during brain development.
DCTN2 is also known as DCTN50, DYNAMITIN, HEL-S-77, RBP50.
