Cytoplasmic dynein contains three active AAA + ATPases (AAA1, 3 and 4), but only the functions of AAA1 and 3 are known. Here, we perform single-molecule fluorescence and optical tweezers studies and show that AAA4 controls the priming stroke of the motion-generating linker, which connects the dimerizing tail of the motor to the AAA + ring.
- Xinglei Liu
- Lu Rao
- Arne Gennerich
