Figure 1.

Linking Rab5 to dynein by inducible dimerization causes early endosomes to accumulate in the cell center. (A) As shown in the schematic, FRB-3myc-Rab5 and tdTM-BicD2⁵⁹⁴-FKBP were coexpressed along with GFP-Rab5, a vesicle marker. After adding the linker drug (AP21967), the FRB and FKBP domains were fused together, linking the FRB-3myc-Rab5 to dynein. The second diagram shows the predicted redistribution of GFP-Rab5 vesicles to the minus end of microtubules (gray). (B) Representative images showing the distribution of tdTM-BicD2⁵⁹⁴-FKBP and GFP-Rab5 in control cells and in cells treated with the linker drug. In control cells BicD2 was mostly soluble, with small aggregations throughout the cell. GFP-Rab5 vesicles were distributed through the cell. In treated cells, both GFP-Rab5 vesicles and BicD2 became concentrated in the center of the cell. The yellow lines outline the cell boundaries. Bar, 30 µm.