Dynamin 3: Proteins and Enzymes

The dynamins are a family of 100 kDa GTPases transcribed from at least three separate genes. At least four mRNA splice variants for each dynamin have been described. Dynamins contain several conserved regions including the conserved, amino-terminal GTPase domain, a centrally located membrane-binding plekstrin homology domain (PHD), and a coiled-coil region located in front of a proline-rich domain (PRD). The PRD is thought to mediate interactions between dynamin and numerous other cellular proteins. Dynamin 1 is expressed exclusively in neurons, Dynamin 2 is ubiquitously expressed, and Dynamin 3 is thought to be restricted to expression in the brain, testis, heart, and lung. The dynamins participate in the cellular process of clathrin-mediated and fluid-phase endocytosis.