Cytoplasmic dynein 1 light intermediate chain 2

DYNC1LI2 encodes cytoplasmic dynein 1 light intermediate chain 2, a non-catalytic accessory component of the cytoplasmic dynein 1 complex (UniProt: O43237). It functions in linking dynein to cargo and adapter proteins, facilitating retrograde transport of vesicles and organelles along microtubules. The protein may also participate in dynein binding to membranous organelles and chromosomes.

Cytoplasmic dynein 1 operates broadly in intracellular vesicular trafficking and organellar transport across multiple cell types, including neurons. No monogenic disease associations are documented in UniProt for DYNC1LI2.

In Alzheimer's disease, DYNC1LI2 is downregulated in post-mortem AD brain tissue compared to age-matched controls (Chaparral AD proteomics), with a mean log2 fold-change of −0.28 across examined subcellular fractions. This modest reduction suggests altered dynein-mediated transport capacity may contribute to AD pathophysiology, potentially affecting amyloid precursor protein processing or clearance of pathological protein aggregates in affected neurons.