Top Panel. During cell division, dynein is enriched at the cortex distal to the spindle poles. Cortical dynein generates pulling forces on astral microtubules required for centrosome separation, positioning and orientation of the mitotic spindle. The recruitment of dynein to the cortex in mitotic cells is mediated by Gαi/LGN/NuMA.
Bottom Panel. Cytoplasmic dynein is recruited to the cortical actin in axons. This recruitment is required for removing microtubules with “wrong” (minus-ends out) orientation from axons. On the other hand, microtubules with “right” (plus-ends out) orientation are transported towards the tip of the axons, inducing neurite outgrowth. Currently, it is unknown how dynein is targeted to the cortical actin in the axons.