Maytansine-Site Binding Agent

Cancer Terms -> Drugs and Chemicals -> Pharmacologic Substance -> Antineoplastic Agent -> Antimitotic Agent -> Tubulin Binding Agent -> Maytansine-Site Binding Agent

Maytansine-Site Binding Agent Definition

A class of anti-mitotic compounds that bind to the maytansine site of the beta tubulin subunit, a region that appears to overlap, at least partially, with the vinca-binding site. Compared to the vinca-site binding agents, these ligands have distinctly different chemical structures, resulting in unique interactions with the sulfhydryl residues, and perhaps with other structures on the tubulin protein, thereby producing different physiological effects which do not fully mimic those of the vinca-site ligands. Like the vinca-site agents, these compounds inhibit the polymerization of tubulin dimers and thereby, prevent the assembly of microtubules. The subsequent decrease in the amount of formed microtubules causes disassembly of the mitotic spindle resulting from instability of the structure during the mitotic interphase, eventually leading to cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis.

Maytansine-Site Binding Agent Synonyms

Maytansine-Site Binding Agent, Rhizoxin-Site Binding Agent

Terms in Maytansine-Site Binding Agent category

Rhizoxin