CLIPs for organelle-microtubule interactions

Interactions of intracellular membranes with microtubules play a fundamental role in the dynamic organization of cytoplasmic organelles. The microtubule-based motors kinesin and cytoplasmic dynein are responsible for directed movement of vesicles and organelles, but in vitro assays indicate the existence of another class of proteins linking membranes to microtubules. CLIP-170, a cytoplasmic linker protein that mediates binding of endosomes to microtubules, provides a paradigm for understanding how these proteins may complement the role of motors in regulating microtubule-dependent membrane trafficking.