Affinage

DYNLRB1

Dynein light chain roadblock-type 1 · UniProt Q9NP97

Length
96 aa
Mass
10.9 kDa
Annotated
2026-06-09
28 papers in source corpus 16 papers cited in narrative 16 extracted findings
Cross-family judge vs UniProt: Affinage preferred faithfulness: 7/7 claims corpus-supported (100%)

Mechanistic narrative

Synthesis pass · prose summary of the discoveries below

DYNLRB1 is a homodimeric roadblock/LC7-family dynein light chain that serves as an essential structural subunit shared by both cytoplasmic dynein-1 and dynein-2 complexes, and additionally functions as a signaling adaptor independent of the motor (PMID:16970917, PMID:25205765, PMID:31393067). Its 2.1 Å crystal structure reveals a homodimer with a 10-stranded β-sheet core; residue 89 mediates binding to the dynein intermediate chain IC74, and the positively charged β-sheet surface engages partners (PMID:16970917). Within dynein-2, DYNLRB1 (with DYNLRB2) docks onto the WDR34 intermediate chain via a site distinct from the DYNLL1/DYNLL2 site, and this incorporation is essential for retrograde ciliary protein trafficking by IFT (PMID:29742051, PMID:30649997). In neurons, DYNLRB1 is required for general dynein-mediated retrograde axonal transport: its loss is embryonic lethal in mice, compromises proprioceptive neuron survival, and impairs transport of both lysosomes and signaling endosomes as well as β-catenin localization (PMID:32088381), and it is specifically required for retrograde trafficking and targeted degradation of FMRP, controlling translation of FMRP targets such as MAP1B (PMID:37739344). Beyond the motor, DYNLRB1 (km23-1) acts as a dynein-independent adaptor coupling TGFβ receptor activation to Ras/ERK/JNK signaling, co-sedimenting with Ras and TβRII in lipid rafts and forming a TGFβ-inducible Ras complex that drives TGFβ1 autoinduction and cell migration (PMID:22637579, PMID:31393067). It also binds Rab6 GTPase isoforms at the Golgi in a nucleotide-state-selective manner without altering their GTPase activity (PMID:18044744) and interacts with the reduced folate carrier to promote folate uptake (PMID:19571232). Through its C-terminal region, DYNLRB1 mediates the non-enzymatic structural function of NAGK in axodendritic growth, mitotic division, and suppression of mutant huntingtin and α-synuclein aggregation (PMID:26272270, PMID:27646688, PMID:32796833).

Mechanistic history

Synthesis pass · year-by-year structured walk · 14 steps
  1. 2006 High

    Established the structural basis for DYNLRB1's role as a dynein light chain by defining how it homodimerizes and contacts the intermediate chain.

    Evidence X-ray crystallography (SAD) at 2.1 Å with solution studies and structure-guided mutagenesis inference

    PMID:16970917

    Open questions at the time
    • Functional consequence of residue 89/IC74 binding not tested in cells
    • Did not address non-dynein partner interfaces
  2. 2008 High

    Showed DYNLRB1 engages the Golgi-associated Rab6 GTPases in a nucleotide-state-selective manner, implicating it in membrane trafficking beyond classical motor activity.

    Evidence Yeast two-hybrid, co-IP, pull-down, confocal co-localization, in vitro GTPase assay

    PMID:18044744

    Open questions at the time
    • Functional outcome of Rab6 binding on transport not directly demonstrated
    • Whether binding is dynein-dependent unresolved
  3. 2009 High

    Linked DYNLRB1 to a transporter, the reduced folate carrier, demonstrating a direct interaction that modulates folate uptake.

    Evidence Bacterial/mammalian two-hybrid, pull-down, co-IP, confocal imaging, siRNA, folate uptake assay

    PMID:19571232

    Open questions at the time
    • Mechanism by which DYNLRB1 enhances hRFC activity (trafficking vs. stabilization) unclear
    • Physiological relevance in vivo not tested
  4. 2012 Medium

    Defined a dynein-independent adaptor role coupling TGFβ receptor activation to Ras/ERK/JNK signaling and TGFβ1 autoinduction.

    Evidence siRNA knockdown, co-IP, sucrose gradient fractionation, reporter assays, immunoblotting

    PMID:22637579

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct vs. indirect Ras binding not structurally resolved
    • Single lab; reciprocal validation of the TGFβ-inducible Ras complex limited
  5. 2014 Medium

    Placed DYNLRB1 as a subunit shared by both cytoplasmic dynein-1 and dynein-2, broadening its motor role to ciliary transport.

    Evidence Co-immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry proteomics

    PMID:25205765

    Open questions at the time
    • Stoichiometry within each motor not quantified
    • Functional necessity within dynein-2 not yet tested here
  6. 2015 Medium

    Identified a NAGK-DYNLRB1 interaction at dendritic Golgi outposts and axons that promotes neurite growth via the protein's C-terminal residues.

    Evidence Yeast two-hybrid, PLA, immunocytochemistry, overexpression/shRNA, peptide competition in hippocampal neurons

    PMID:26272270 PMID:26467288

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether dynein motor activity is required for the growth effect untested
    • Mechanism linking NAGK binding to Golgi positioning unresolved
  7. 2016 Medium

    Extended the NAGK-DYNLRB1 axis to mitosis, placing it with Lis1 and NudE1 at the nuclear envelope and kinetochores during cell division.

    Evidence PLA, immunocytochemistry, shRNA knockdown, cell cycle analysis

    PMID:27646688

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct DYNLRB1 contribution (vs. NAGK) to division phenotype not isolated
    • Mechanism of envelope breakdown role unresolved
  8. 2018 Medium

    Resolved the dynein-2 architecture by showing DYNLRB1 binds the WDR34 intermediate chain subcomplex at a site distinct from DYNLL.

    Evidence Visible immunoprecipitation (VIP) assay and co-IP

    PMID:29742051

    Open questions at the time
    • Binding sites mapped by IP, not structure
    • Functional consequence addressed in subsequent work
  9. 2019 High

    Demonstrated that DYNLRB1 incorporation into dynein-2 via WDR34 is functionally essential for retrograde ciliary protein trafficking.

    Evidence WDR34-knockout cell rescue with interaction-disrupting constructs, dominant-negative expression, ciliary trafficking assay

    PMID:30649997

    Open questions at the time
    • Redundancy between DYNLRB1 and DYNLRB2 not fully dissected
    • Cargo specificity of ciliary defect unresolved
  10. 2019 Medium

    Separated the signaling pool of DYNLRB1 from the motor by showing it co-sediments with Ras/ERK in dynein-free fractions and drives cancer cell migration independently of motor activity.

    Evidence CRISPR-Cas9 knockout, siRNA, sucrose gradient/SEC fractionation, immunostaining, migration assay in colorectal cells

    PMID:31393067

    Open questions at the time
    • Molecular composition of the dynein-free signaling complex incomplete
    • Whether R-Ras binding is direct unresolved
  11. 2020 High

    Established DYNLRB1 as essential in vivo for general dynein-mediated retrograde axonal transport, with embryonic lethality and broad cargo transport deficits.

    Evidence Constitutive and conditional knockout mice, live imaging of lysosome/endosome transport, β-catenin localization, in vivo shRNA

    PMID:32088381

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether requirement reflects motor assembly or processivity not separated
    • Tissue-specific dependencies beyond sensory neurons untested
  12. 2020 Medium

    Showed the NAGK-DYNLRB1 interaction is non-enzymatic and structural, mediating suppression of huntingtin and α-synuclein aggregation, and operates in migrating cells via Lis1/NudC.

    Evidence Yeast two-hybrid, docking, peptide competition, kinase-dead NAGK control, aggregate clearance and wound-healing assays

    PMID:32796833 PMID:33374456

    Open questions at the time
    • Mechanism linking aggregate clearance to dynein transport not directly shown
    • Direct structural interface inferred from docking only
  13. 2023 Medium

    Defined DYNLRB1 as required for FMRP retrograde transport and turnover, linking the motor function to local translational control of FMRP targets.

    Evidence siRNA silencing, live retrograde transport imaging, FMRP granule accumulation assay, MAP1B translational reporter, proteomics

    PMID:37739344

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct DYNLRB1-FMRP/annexin A11 contacts not biochemically mapped
    • Mechanism of targeted FMRP degradation unresolved
  14. 2025 Medium

    Positioned DYNLRB1 within the TGFβ pathway as a mediator of TGFβ-exacerbated α-synuclein toxicity in dopaminergic neurons.

    Evidence Genome-wide siRNA screen with validation, dopaminergic cell death assay, SNCA mRNA expression analysis

    PMID:41387695

    Open questions at the time
    • Whether effect uses the dynein-independent adaptor function not directly tested
    • Direct molecular target downstream of DYNLRB1 in this pathway unresolved

Open questions

Synthesis pass · forward-looking unresolved questions
  • It remains unresolved how DYNLRB1 partitions between its motor structural role and its dynein-independent signaling/adaptor functions, and what determines which complex it joins.
  • No structural model of DYNLRB1 in the dynein-independent Ras complex
  • Regulation of DYNLRB1 partitioning between dynein and signaling pools unknown
  • Functional overlap/redundancy with DYNLRB2 across contexts undefined

Mechanism profile

Synthesis pass · controlled-vocabulary classification · explore literature graph →
Molecular activity
GO:0005198 structural molecule activity 4 GO:0060090 molecular adaptor activity 2 GO:0098772 molecular function regulator activity 2
Localization
GO:0005635 nuclear envelope 2 GO:0005794 Golgi apparatus 2 GO:0005856 cytoskeleton 2 GO:0005886 plasma membrane 2 GO:0005929 cilium 1
Pathway
R-HSA-162582 Signal Transduction 3 R-HSA-5653656 Vesicle-mediated transport 3 R-HSA-9609507 Protein localization 2 R-HSA-1640170 Cell Cycle 1
Complex memberships
cytoplasmic dynein-1cytoplasmic dynein-2 (WDR34 intermediate chain subcomplex)

Evidence

Reading pass · 16 per-paper findings extracted from the source corpus
Year Finding Method Journal Conf PMIDs
2006 Crystal structure of human DYNLRB1 (Dnlc2A) solved at 2.1 Å resolution by single anomalous diffraction. The protein forms a homodimer with a 10-stranded β-sheet core; residue 89 of each monomer is located within holes in the core and is crucial for binding to the dynein intermediate chain IC74 (DIC). The surface of the β-sheet core is primarily positively charged and predicted to be the site for partner interactions. X-ray crystallography (SAD), analytical ultracentrifugation/solution studies, mutagenesis inference from structure Biochemical and biophysical research communications High 16970917
2008 DYNLRB1 directly interacts with all three Rab6 isoforms (Rab6A, Rab6A', and Rab6B) as shown by yeast two-hybrid, co-immunoprecipitation, and pull-down assays. Pull-down experiments revealed preferred association of DYNLRB1 with GTP-bound Rab6A and GDP-bound Rab6A'/Rab6B. DYNLRB1 co-localizes with EYFP-Rab6 isoforms at the Golgi apparatus. In vitro GTPase activity assays showed DYNLRB1 did not modulate Rab6 GTPase activity. Yeast two-hybrid, co-immunoprecipitation, pull-down assay, confocal co-localization, in vitro GTPase assay Cell motility and the cytoskeleton High 18044744
2009 DYNLRB1 interacts directly with the large intracellular loop (between TM6 and TM7) of the human reduced folate carrier (hRFC), as demonstrated by bacterial two-hybrid screen, in vitro pull-down, mammalian two-hybrid luciferase assay, and co-immunoprecipitation. DYNLRB1 co-localizes with hRFC in live HuTu-80 intestinal epithelial cells. Co-expression of DYNLRB1 with hRFC significantly increases folate uptake, while siRNA knockdown of DYNLRB1 or pharmacological inhibition with vanadate significantly reduces folate uptake. Bacterial two-hybrid, in vitro pull-down, mammalian two-hybrid luciferase assay, co-immunoprecipitation, confocal imaging, siRNA knockdown, functional folate uptake assay American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology High 19571232
2012 DYNLRB1 (km23-1) is required for TGFβ1 autoinduction through Smad2-independent Ras/ERK/JNK pathways. siRNA knockdown of km23-1 reduced TGFβ1 mRNA expression, inhibited TGFβ-mediated ERK and JNK activation, c-Jun phosphorylation, and c-Jun promoter transactivation. Sucrose gradient analysis showed km23-1 co-sediments with Ras and TβRII in lipid rafts after TGFβ treatment. Co-immunoprecipitation demonstrated formation of a TGFβ-inducible complex between Ras and km23-1 within minutes of TGFβ addition. km23-1 is required for Ras activation by TGFβ, functioning as an adaptor coupling TβR activation to Ras effector pathways. siRNA knockdown, co-immunoprecipitation, sucrose gradient fractionation, reporter assay, immunoblotting The Journal of biological chemistry Medium 22637579
2014 DYNLRB1 (roadblock-1) is a subunit shared by both cytoplasmic dynein-1 and dynein-2 complexes in human cells. Co-immunoprecipitation and proteomics defined DYNLRB1 as a component of the human dynein-2 complex alongside WDR34, WDR60, TCTEX1D2, DYNLRB2, DYNLT1/DYNLT3, and DYNLL1/DYNLL2. Co-immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry proteomics Journal of cell science Medium 25205765
2015 DYNLRB1 interacts with N-acetylglucosamine kinase (NAGK) as identified by yeast two-hybrid screening and confirmed by proximity ligation assay and immunocytochemistry in hippocampal neurons. The NAGK-DYNLRB1 interaction localizes to Golgi outposts at dendritic branch points. Introduction of a peptide derived from DYNLRB1 C-terminal residues 74–96 stunted hippocampal neuron dendrites in culture, demonstrating a functional role for this interaction in dendritic growth. Yeast two-hybrid, proximity ligation assay (PLA), immunocytochemistry, peptide competition assay Experimental & molecular medicine Medium 26272270
2015 The NAGK-DYNLRB1 (dynein) interaction operates in growing axons where NAGK, dynein (DYNLRB1), and Golgi form a tripartite complex. Overexpression of NAGK increased axonal lengths while shRNA knockdown reduced them; transfection with DYNLRB1(74-96) peptide produced neurons with shorter axons, indicating the NAGK-DYNLRB1 interaction is required for axonal growth. Proximity ligation assay, immunocytochemistry, overexpression, shRNA knockdown, peptide competition Molecules and cells Medium 26467288
2016 DYNLRB1 participates in a complex with NAGK, Lis1, and NudE1 at the nuclear envelope and kinetochores during cell division. PLA showed NAGK-DYNLRB1 complex co-localizes with Lis1 and NudE1 at nuclear envelopes in prophase and on chromosomes in metaphase. shRNA knockdown of NAGK delayed cell division, implicating the NAGK-DYNLRB1-Lis1-NudE1 complex in nuclear envelope breakdown and microtubule-kinetochore attachment. Proximity ligation assay, immunocytochemistry, shRNA knockdown, cell cycle analysis Molecules and cells Medium 27646688
2018 Within the dynein-2 complex, DYNLRB1/DYNLRB2 associate with the WDR34 intermediate chain subcomplex (WDR34-DYNLL1/DYNLL2-DYNLRB1/DYNLRB2), as defined by visible immunoprecipitation assay. This places DYNLRB1 in one of three dynein-2 subcomplexes. Visible immunoprecipitation assay (VIP assay), co-immunoprecipitation Molecular biology of the cell Medium 29742051
2019 WDR34 intermediate chain binds DYNLRB1/DYNLRB2 via a distinct site separate from its DYNLL1/DYNLL2-binding site. Phenotypic analyses of WDR34-knockout cells expressing WDR34 constructs with disrupted light chain interactions showed that DYNLRB1/DYNLRB2 incorporation into the dynein-2 complex via WDR34 is essential for retrograde ciliary protein trafficking. A WDR34 N-terminal construct encompassing the light chain-binding sites inhibited ciliary biogenesis in a dominant-negative manner. Co-immunoprecipitation, WDR34-knockout cell lines, exogenous WDR34 construct rescue, dominant-negative expression, ciliary trafficking assay Molecular biology of the cell High 30649997
2019 CRISPR-Cas9 knockout of km23-1/DYNLRB1 reduced cell migration in HCT116 and DLD-1 colorectal cancer cells. Sucrose gradient fractionation showed km23-1/DYNLRB1 co-sediments with Ras, p-ERK, and ERK in fractions that did not contain holo-dynein components, and km23-1/DYNLRB1 co-localizes with R-Ras at the protruding edges of migrating cells. Disruption of dynein motor activity did not reduce TGFβ-mediated MEK1/2 or JNK activation, indicating dynein-independent km23-1/DYNLRB1 functions in Ras/ERK signaling. CRISPR-Cas9 knockout, siRNA, sucrose gradient fractionation, size exclusion chromatography, immunostaining, cell migration assay Cell biology international Medium 31393067
2020 Homozygous Dynlrb1 null mice are embryonic lethal, and heterozygous or adult knockdown animals display reduced neuronal growth. Selective depletion of Dynlrb1 in proprioceptive neurons compromises their survival. Conditional depletion in sensory neurons causes deficits in β-catenin subcellular localization and severe impairment of axonal transport of both lysosomes and retrograde signaling endosomes, establishing DYNLRB1 as essential for general dynein-mediated transport rather than cargo-specific transport. Knockout mouse (homozygous lethal), conditional KO in sensory neurons, live imaging of axonal transport (lysosome and endosome trafficking), β-catenin localization assay, shRNA knockdown in vivo Neurobiology of disease High 32088381
2020 NAGK interacts with DYNLRB1 and efficiently suppresses mutant huntingtin (Q74) and α-synuclein A53T aggregation in mouse brain cells. Yeast two-hybrid and in silico docking showed the small domain of NAGK (NAGK-DS) binds to the C-terminal of DYNLRB1. A peptide derived from NAGK-DS interfered with Q74 clearance. A kinase-inactive NAGK mutant also cleared aggregates, confirming the effect is structural/non-enzymatic and mediated via DYNLRB1 interaction. Yeast two-hybrid, protein-protein docking, peptide competition assay, kinase-dead mutant expression, aggregate clearance assay in mouse brain cells Cell death & disease Medium 32796833
2020 NAGK interacts with NudC and Lis1 within the dynein complex, and these NAGK-NudC-Lis1-dynein complexes (identified via DYNLRB1 interactions) localize to the leading poles of migrating cells. NAGK overexpression accelerated cell migration while shRNA knockdown delayed it; a NAGK peptide from the NudC-interacting domain retarded migration, placing DYNLRB1-containing dynein complexes at the nuclear envelope as regulators of cell migration. Yeast two-hybrid, pull-down, immunocytochemistry, PLA, wound-healing migration assay, in utero electroporation, peptide competition International journal of molecular sciences Medium 33374456
2023 Dynlrb1 is a critical regulator of FMRP function in sensory axons. FMRP associates with endolysosomal organelles (likely through annexin A11) and is retrogradely trafficked by the dynein complex in a Dynlrb1-dependent manner. Dynlrb1 silencing induced FMRP granule accumulation and repressed translation of MAP1B (one of FMRP's primary mRNA targets), establishing Dynlrb1 as required for FMRP retrograde transport and targeted degradation. Dynlrb1 siRNA silencing, live imaging of retrograde transport, FMRP granule accumulation assay, translational reporter (MAP1B), proteomics Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP Medium 37739344
2025 Knockdown of DYNLRB1 (siRNA) mitigated TGFβ ligand-exacerbated α-synuclein-induced toxicity in dopaminergic neurons, placing DYNLRB1 in the TGFβ signaling pathway upstream of α-synuclein toxicity. TGFβ ligand treatment induced upregulation of SNCA mRNA in aSyn-overexpressing cells, and DYNLRB1 knockdown protected against this toxicity similarly to ALK5 and SMAD2 knockdown. Genome-wide siRNA screen, siRNA knockdown validation, dopaminergic cell death assay, mRNA expression analysis Cell death discovery Medium 41387695

Source papers

Stage 0 corpus · 28 papers · ranked by NIH iCite citations
Year Title Journal Citations PMID
2014 Subunit composition of the human cytoplasmic dynein-2 complex. Journal of cell science 83 25205765
2022 Tegument protein UL21 of alpha-herpesvirus inhibits the innate immunity by triggering CGAS degradation through TOLLIP-mediated selective autophagy. Autophagy 76 36343628
2008 Rab6 family proteins interact with the dynein light chain protein DYNLRB1. Cell motility and the cytoskeleton 64 18044744
2001 Identification of two novel human dynein light chain genes, DNLC2A and DNLC2B, and their expression changes in hepatocellular carcinoma tissues from 68 Chinese patients. Gene 56 11750132
2018 Interaction of WDR60 intermediate chain with TCTEX1D2 light chain of the dynein-2 complex is crucial for ciliary protein trafficking. Molecular biology of the cell 54 29742051
2011 The association of viral proteins with host cell dynein components during virus infection. The FEBS journal 51 21777384
2019 Interactions of the dynein-2 intermediate chain WDR34 with the light chains are required for ciliary retrograde protein trafficking. Molecular biology of the cell 40 30649997
2009 Proteins upregulated by mild and severe hypoxia in squamous cell carcinomas in vitro identified by proteomics. Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology 34 19541378
2020 DYNLRB1 is essential for dynein mediated transport and neuronal survival. Neurobiology of disease 23 32088381
2009 Identification of dynein light chain road block-1 as a novel interaction partner with the human reduced folate carrier. American journal of physiology. Gastrointestinal and liver physiology 18 19571232
2015 N-acetyl-D-glucosamine kinase interacts with dynein light-chain roadblock type 1 at Golgi outposts in neuronal dendritic branch points. Experimental & molecular medicine 17 26272270
2020 N-acetyl-D-glucosamine kinase binds dynein light chain roadblock 1 and promotes protein aggregate clearance. Cell death & disease 14 32796833
2016 N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine Kinase Interacts with Dynein-Lis1-NudE1 Complex and Regulates Cell Division. Molecules and cells 13 27646688
2012 The TGFβ receptor-interacting protein km23-1/DYNLRB1 plays an adaptor role in TGFβ1 autoinduction via its association with Ras. The Journal of biological chemistry 13 22637579
2020 N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine Kinase Interacts with NudC and Lis1 in Dynein Motor Complex and Promotes Cell Migration. International journal of molecular sciences 12 33374456
2015 N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine Kinase Promotes the Axonal Growth of Developing Neurons. Molecules and cells 11 26467288
2010 Characterisation of hairy cell leukaemia by tiling resolution array-based comparative genome hybridisation: a series of 13 cases and review of the literature. European journal of haematology 10 19682064
2021 Identification of Key Molecules and lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA Network in Preeclampsia. International journal of general medicine 7 34754230
2006 Crystal structure of human dynein light chain Dnlc2A: structural insights into the interaction with IC74. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 7 16970917
2021 Computational Insights into the Deleterious Impacts of Missense Variants on N-Acetyl-d-glucosamine Kinase Structure and Function. International journal of molecular sciences 6 34360815
2024 Compartmentalization proteomics revealed endolysosomal protein network changes in a goat model of atrial fibrillation. iScience 5 38827406
2019 km23-1/DYNLRB1 regulation of MEK/ERK signaling and R-Ras in invasive human colorectal cancer cells. Cell biology international 5 31393067
2024 Multi-omic characteristics of longitudinal immune profiling after breakthrough infections caused by Omicron BA.5 sublineages. EBioMedicine 4 39536392
2023 FMRP Long-Range Transport and Degradation Are Mediated by Dynlrb1 in Sensory Neurons. Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP 4 37739344
2023 N-Acetylglucosamine Kinase-Small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein Polypeptide N Interaction Promotes Axodendritic Branching in Neurons via Dynein-Mediated Microtubule Transport. International journal of molecular sciences 2 37511433
2025 Selection Signatures in Italian Goat Populations Sharing the "facciuto" Phenotype. Genes 1 40282350
2025 Integrative machine learning approach for forecasting lung cancer chemosensitivity: From algorithm to cell line validation. Computational and structural biotechnology journal 1 40778317
2025 Inhibition of TGF-beta signaling protects from alpha-synuclein induced toxicity. Cell death discovery 0 41387695

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