Differential Effects of LIS1 On Processive Dynein-Dynactin Motility

Abstract Cytoplasmic dynein is the primary minus-end directed microtubule motor protein in cells. LIS1 is a highly conserved dynein regulatory factor that binds directly to the dynein motor domain, uncoupling the enzymatic and mechanical cycles of the motor, and stalling dynein on the microtubule track. Dynactin, another ubiquitous dynein regulatory factor, acts to release dynein from an autoinhibited state, leading to a dramatic increase in fast, processive dynein motility. How these opposing activities are integrated to control dynein motility is unknown. Here we used fluorescence single-molecule microscopy to study the interaction of LIS1 with the processive dynein-dynactin-BicD2N (DDB) complex. Surprisingly, in contrast to the prevailing model for LIS1 function established in the context of dynein alone, we find that binding of LIS1 to DDB does not strongly disrupt processive motility. Motile DDB complexes bind up to two LIS1 dimers, and mutational analysis suggests LIS1 binds directly to the dynein motor domains during DDB movement. Interestingly, LIS1 enhances DDB velocity in a concentration dependent manner, in contrast to observations of LIS1’s effects on the motility of isolated dynein. Thus, LIS1 exerts concentration dependent effects on dynein motility, and can synergize with dynactin to enhance processive movement in the absence of load.