Dyneins are minus end-directed microtubule motor protein complexes. Axonemal dynein complexes interact with adjacent microtubules in the axoneme. Coordinated binding and release of the axonemal dyneins slide the microtubules relative to each other causing the axoneme to bend driving ciliary and flagellar motion. Axonemal dynein intermediate chains are subunits of axonemal dynein complexes. They are subdivided into inner and outer arm classes depending on their position within the axoneme. (Adapted from
PMID:24064538).