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NudEL targets dynein to microtubule ends through LIS1

Nature Cell Biology volume 7, pages 686–690 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Dynein is a minus-end-directed microtubule motor with critical roles in mitosis, membrane transport and intracellular transport. Several proteins regulate dynein activity, including dynactin1, LIS1 (refs 2, 3) and NudEL (NudE-like)2,4,5,6,7,8. Here, we identify a NUDEL homologue in budding yeast and name it Ndl1. The ndl1Δ null mutant shows decreased targeting of dynein to microtubule plus ends, an essential element of the model for dynein function. We find that Ndl1 regulates dynein targeting through LIS1, with which it interacts biochemically, but not through CLIP170, another plus-end protein involved in dynein targeting9. Ndl1 is found at far fewer microtubule ends than are LIS1 and dynein. However, when Ndl1 is present at a plus end, the molar amount of Ndl1 approaches that of LIS1 and dynein. We propose a model in which Ndl1 binds transiently to the plus end to promote targeting of LIS1, which cooperatively recruits dynein.

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Figure 1: Ndl1 is required for efficient Dyn1 and Pac1 targeting to the plus ends.
Figure 2: Ndl1 transiently localizes to microtubule plus ends.
Figure 3: Model for dynein targeting at the plus end of microtubules.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to R. Heil-Chapdelaine and S. Nelson for their advice and assistance. This work was supported by the American Heart Association Fellowship AHA40390 to J.L., Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation Fellowship DRG -1671 to W.-L.L., and NIH GM47337 to J.A.C.

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  1. Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, PO Box 8228, Washington University in St Louis, School of Medicine, St Louis, 63110, MO, USA

    Jun Li, Wei-Lih Lee & John A. Cooper

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  1. Jun Li
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Correspondence to John A. Cooper.

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Li, J., Lee, WL. & Cooper, J. NudEL targets dynein to microtubule ends through LIS1. Nat Cell Biol 7, 686–690 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/ncb1273

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