Dyneins, cytoplasmic
dyneins, cytoplasmic
Cytoplasmic dynein, which has a molecular mass of about 1.5 megadaltons (MDa), contains approximately twelve polypeptide subunits: two identical 'heavy chains', 520 kDa in mass, which contain the ATPase activity and are thus responsible for generating movement along the microtubule; two 74 kDa intermediate chains which are believed to anchor the dynein to its cargo; four 53–59 kDa intermediate chains; and several light chains which are less understood.