Dynein, Axonemal, Heavy Chain 12 (DNAH12)

Dyneins are microtubule-associated motor protein complexes composed of several heavy, light, and intermediate chains. Two major classes of dyneins, axonemal and cytoplasmic, have been identified. By RT-PCR with degenerate primers based on a conserved region of dynein heavy chains, Vaisberg et al. (1996) isolated a partial cDNA encoding DHC3.

Although the predicted partial DHC3 amino acid sequence was most similar to those of axonemal dyneins, Northern and Western blot analyses revealed that DHC3 is expressed in various mammalian cell lines and human tissues that do not make cilia or flagella. Using immunofluorescence, Vaisberg et al. (1996) localized DHC3 to unidentified cytoplasmic structures that may represent transport intermediates between 2 or more cytoplasmic compartments.