Dynein, Axonemal, Light Intermediate Chain 1 (DNALI1)

DNALI1 is the human homolog of the Chlamydomonas inner dynein arm gene, p28. The precise function of this gene is not known, however, it is a potential candidate for immotile cilia syndrome (ICS). Ultrastructural defects of the inner dynein arms are seen in patients with ICS. Immotile mutant strains of Chlamydomonas, a biflagellated algae, exhibit similar defects.

Kastury et al. (1997) cloned the full-length human axonemal dynein light-chain cDNA, a homolog of the Chlamydomonas inner dynein arm gene p28. The human p28 gene is encoded by a 921-bp transcript with an open reading frame of 257 amino acids. Northern blot analysis revealed 2 human p28 transcripts of 0.9 and 2.5 kb in many tissues. The 0.9-kb transcript is expressed at a 20-fold higher level than the 2.5-kb transcript in the testis.