Dynein pulls a subcellular component along a microtubule
Dynein, shown in red, binds to the microtubule and uses the energy in ATP molecules to move from the positive (+) end of the microtubule (where new tubulin dimers are adding to the microtubule) toward the minus (-) end of the microtubule. Each small step, requires the hydrolysis of one ATP molecule. Dynein pulls subcellular materials toward the center of the cell, or in the case of mitosis, toward the poles of the spindle and thus toward the centers of the two new daughter cells. A closely related protein, kinesin, pulls subcellular materials in the opposite direction.