title: Identification of Simple Compounds with Microtubule-Binding Activity That Inhibit Cancer Cell Growth with High Potency.
abstract: We analyzed more than 1 million small molecules with the goal of finding simple synthetic compounds that potently inhibit cancer cell growth. We identified three such compounds with unknown mechanisms of action. Subsequent studies revealed that all three of these small molecules target microtubules. These three scaffolds can serve as templates for developing new microtubule-targeted agents, overcoming the limits of existing microtubule-inhibiting drugs derived from complex natural products.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences,  Department of Chemistry, and  Howard Hughes Medical Institute,  Columbia University , Northwest Corner Building, 12th Floor, 550 West 120th Street, MC 4846, New York, New York 10027, United States.
authors.forename: Wan Seok
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Darnelle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Delva
authors.forename: Milesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Egberamwen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ode
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Skouta
authors.forename: Brent R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Stockwell