Dissecting Microtubule Stability

摘要

Microtubule-stabilizing agents (MSAs), like taxol, inhibit cell division and are widely used in cancer chemotherapy. Prota et al. (p. 587, published online 3 January) present structural data on the molecular mechanism of action of antimitotic drugs. Tubulin structures in complex with the MSAs zampanolide and epothilone A, revealed a general mechanism for how MSAs promote microtubule assembly and stability by affecting lateral tubulin interactions.