NCBI Summary:
This gene encodes a member of a subclass of dynein light chains. The encoded protein homodimerizes and forms the light chain component of the cytoplasmic dynein motor protein complex. This protein may be important for binding dynein to specific cargos including the spindle checkpoint protein BUB3. This protein may also function independently of dynein as a transcriptional modulator. Pseudogenes of this gene are found on chromosomes 2 and 20.[provided by RefSeq, Mar 2010]
General function
Chromosome organization
Comment
Cellular localization
Cytoskeleton
Comment
Ovarian function
Oocyte maturation
Comment
Expression regulated by
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Ovarian localization
Oocyte
Comment
Dynlt3 is Required for Chromosome Alignment During Mouse Oocyte Meiotic Maturation. Huang X et al. Dynein light chain, Tctex-type 3 (DYNLT3), is a member of the cytoplasmic dynein DYNLT light chain family and has been reported to have a potential role in chromosome congression in human mitosis. However, its role in mammalian meiosis is unclear. In this study, we examined its localization, expression, and functions in mouse oocyte meiosis. Immunofluorescent staining showed that DYNLT3 was restricted to the germinal vesicle and associated with kinetochores at the germinal vesicle breakdown stage, metaphase I and metaphase II. The expression level of DYNLT3 was similar at all meiotic stages. Depletion of DYNLT3 by antibody injection resulted in chromosome misalignment and decrease of the polar body extrusion rate. We further found that DYNLT3-depleted oocytes displayed kinetochore-microtubule detachments. Chromosome-spread experiments showed that depletion of DYNLT3 inhibited the metaphase-anaphase transition by preventing homologous chromosome segregation in meiosis I. Our data suggest that DYNLT3 is required for chromosome alignment and homologous chromosome segregation during mouse oocyte meiosis.