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Microtubule-Targeting Agents: Strategies To Hijack the Cytoskeleton.
Journal article

Microtubule-Targeting Agents: Strategies To Hijack the Cytoskeleton.

  • Steinmetz MO Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Division of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland; University of Basel, Biozentrum, 4056 Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: michel.steinmetz@psi.ch.
  • Prota AE Laboratory of Biomolecular Research, Division of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland. Electronic address: andrea.prota@psi.ch.
  • 2018-06-07
Published in:
  • Trends in cell biology. - 2018
microtubule-targeting agents
molecular mechanisms of action
tubulin-ligand binding modes
Antimitotic Agents
Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic
Humans
Microtubules
Mitosis
Paclitaxel
Phosphotransferases
English Microtubule-targeting agents (MTAs) such as paclitaxel and the vinca alkaloids are among the most important medical weapons available to combat cancer. MTAs interfere with intracellular transport, inhibit eukaryotic cell proliferation, and promote cell death by suppressing microtubule dynamics. Recent advances in the structural analysis of MTAs have enabled the extensive characterization of their interactions with microtubules and their building block tubulin. We review here our current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms used by MTAs to hijack the microtubule cytoskeleton, and discuss dual inhibitors that target both kinases and microtubules. We further formulate some outstanding questions related to MTA structural biology and present possible routes for future investigations of this fascinating class of antimitotic agents.
Language
  • English
Open access status
closed
Identifiers
Persistent URL
https://sonar.ch/global/documents/84150
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