Normal subcellular distribution of dynein-dynactin complex subunits and disturbances in neurodegenerative disease

Dynein and its co-factor dynactin form a complex which drives the retrograde transport of material in neurons necessary for their survival and proper functioning. For instance, over-expression of the dynamitin subunit or mutations within individual dynein-dynactin subunits have been found to cause motor neuron degeneration. The CNS distribution of the dynein dynactin complex was examined in order to test the hypothesis that this may be altered in neurodegenerative diseases.