# DCTN1

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/dctn1/  
OnCo record `dctn1` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

DCTN1 (Dynactin subunit 1) is a gene. In the public catalogues the evidence so far is association rather than a proven role.

## Summary

Part of the dynactin complex that activates the molecular motor dynein for ultra-processive transport along microtubules. Plays a key role in dynein-mediated retrograde transport of vesicles and organelles along microtubules by recruiting and tethering dynein to microtubules. Binds to both dynein and microtubules providing a link between specific cargos, microtubules and dynein.

Open Targets scores its association with cancer at 0.62 (direct and indirect evidence; datatypes literature 0.25, affected pathway 0.89, genetic association 0.00, somatic mutation 0.50).

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-23
- Also known as: dynactin subunit 1; Dynactin subunit 1
- Tags: cancer-genes-wave
- Symbol: DCTN1
- Class: other
- Biology: Part of the dynactin complex that activates the molecular motor dynein for ultra-processive transport along microtubules. Plays a key role in dynein-mediated retrograde transport of vesicles and organelles along microtubules by recruiting and tethering dynein to microtubules. Binds to both dynein and microtubules providing a link between specific cargos, microtubules and dynein. Essential for targeting dynein to microtubule plus ends, recruiting dynein to membranous cargos and enhancing dynein processivity (the ability to move along a microtubule for a long distance without falling off the track). Can also act as a brake to slow the dynein motor during motility along the microtubule. Can regulate microtubule stability by promoting microtubule formation, nucleation and polymerisation and by inhibiting microtubule catastrophe in neurons. Location: Cytoplasm; Cytoplasm, cytoskeleton; Cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, microtubule organizing center, centrosome; Cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, microtubule organizing center, centrosome, centriole (UniProt). Locus 2p13.1 (HGNC).

## Notes

- Written by scripts/fetch-cancer-genes.ts from CIViC, Open Targets, IntOGen, HGNC and UniProt; the function text is UniProt's, condensed and in UK spelling. Roles: none stated by the sources. Evidence tier "association-only" is the strongest of those signals.
- Prevalence not recorded: none of the sources gives a positivity rate.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:2711: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:2711
- UniProt Q14203: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q14203/entry
- NCBI Gene 1639: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/1639
- Ensembl ENSG00000204843: https://www.ensembl.org/Homo_sapiens/Gene/Summary?g=ENSG00000204843

## Connected records

- collections: [Open Targets Platform](https://onco.cc/collections/open-targets/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/dctn1.json