Dynein is a
motor protein (also called molecular motor or motor molecule) in
cells which converts the chemical
energy contained in
ATP into the mechanical energy of movement. Dynein transports various cellular cargo by "walking" along
cytoskeletal microtubules towards the minus-end of the microtubule, which is usually oriented towards the cell center. Thus, they are called "minus-end directed motors." This form of transport is known as
retrograde transport. In contrast,
kinesins, which are motor proteins that move toward the microtubules' plus end, are called plus-end directed motors.
