The mechanochemical cycle of reactive full-length human dynein 1.
Chai, P., Yang, J., Geohring, I.C., Markus, S.M., Wang, Y., Zhang, K.(2025) Nat Struct Mol Biol 32: 1383-1395
- PubMed: 40263469 
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41594-025-01543-3
- Primary Citation of Related Structures:  
9BLY, 9BLZ, 9BM0, 9BM1, 9BM2, 9BM3, 9BM4, 9BM5, 9BM6, 9BM7, 9BM8, 9BMA, 9BMB, 9BMC, 9BMD, 9BMF, 9BMG, 9BMH, 9BMJ, 9BML, 9BMM, 9BMN, 9BMO, 9BMP, 9BMR, 9BMS, 9BMT, 9BMU, 9BMV, 9BMW, 9BMY, 9BMZ, 9BN0, 9BN1, 9BN3, 9BN4, 9BN5, 9BN6, 9DH5, 9DH6, 9DH7, 9DH8, 9DH9, 9DHA - PubMed Abstract: 
Dynein-driven cargo transport has a pivotal role in diverse cellular activities, central to which is dynein's mechanochemical cycle. Here, we performed a systematic cryo-electron microscopic investigation of the conformational landscape of full-length human dynein 1 in reaction, in various nucleotide conditions, on and off microtubules. Our approach reveals over 40 high-resolution structures, categorized into eight states, providing a dynamic and comprehensive view of dynein throughout its mechanochemical cycle. The described intermediate states reveal mechanistic insights into dynein function, including a 'backdoor' phosphate release model that coordinates linker straightening, how microtubule binding enhances adenosine triphosphatase activity through a two-way communication mechanism and the crosstalk mechanism between AAA1 and the regulatory AAA3 site. Our findings also lead to a revised model for the force-generating powerstroke and reveal means by which dynein exhibits unidirectional stepping. These results improve our understanding of dynein and provide a more complete model of its mechanochemical cycle.
- Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.
Organizational Affiliation: