Dynein switches between these different conformations as a result of the conversion of a molecule of ATP to ADP at a specific binding site on the protein, which releases energy as a chemical bond is broken.
Delanoue R., Herpers, B., Davis, I. and Rabouille, C. Drosophila Squid - hnRNP helps dynein switch from a gurken mRNA transport motor to an ultrastructural static anchor in sponge bodies Developmental Cell 13:523 (2007)