Background:
This gene encodes a 42.3 kD subunit of dynactin,a macromolecular complex consisting of 10 subunits ranging in size from 22 to 150 kD. Dynactin binds to both microtubules and cytoplasmic dynein and is involved in a diverse array of cellular functions,including ER-to-Golgi transport,the centripetal movement of lysosomes and endosomes,spindle formation,chromosome movement,nuclear positioning,and axonogenesis. This subunit,like ACTR1A,is an actin-related protein. These two proteins,which are of equal length and share 90% amino acid identity,are present in a constant ratio of approximately 1:15 in the dynactin complex.