Dynactin 5 (DCTN5)

Dynactin is a multimeric protein essential for minus-end-directed transport driven by the microtubule-based motor dynein. DCTN5 is a subunit of the pointed-end subcomplex of dynactin that is thought to interact with membranous cargo.

Eckley et al. (1999) identified Dctn5, which they called p25, as a component of the pointed-end dynactin subcomplex in bovine brain. By database analysis, they identified mouse p25, which encodes a 182-amino acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of 20.1 kD. Eckley et al. (1999) also identified p25 orthologs in fly and worm.By searching databases for proteins containing an isoleucine-patch motif predicted to adopt a left-handed parallel beta-helix fold, Parisi et al. (2004) identified mouse p25.