Contributions of dynactin's p150[Glued] subunit's binding domains to microtubule anchoring at the centrosome

Intracellular transport carries out very important roles within the cell including mitosis, organization, and organelle function. In order for effective transport using the motor protein dynein, a cofactor named dynactin is required. Of dynactin's many subunits, p150[Glued] holds the most responsibility for effective microtubule organization throughout the cell and the necessary anchoring at the centrosome. P150[Glued] holds two areas of high binding potential, the CAP-Gly region and the Basic region. Each of these binding domains have different binding potentials and affinities for microtubules. The CAP-Gly region binds tightly the microtubules for a longer period of tiem ; the Basic region binds loosely to microtubules. Throughout the course of my research, I manipulated these two regions binding affinity for microtubules and evaluated the resulting cells ability to effectively organize microtubules and anchor them properly at the centrosome.