Recent progress with microtubule stabilizers: new compounds, binding modes and cellular activities.
Nature has yielded numerous classes of chemically distinct microtubule stabilizers. Several of these, including paclitaxel (Taxol) and docetaxel (Taxotere), are important drugs used in the treatment of cancer. New microtubule stabilizers and novel formulations of these agents continue to provide advances in cancer therapy. In this review we cover recent progress in the chemistry and biology of these diverse microtubule stabilizers focusing on the wide range of organisms that produce these compounds, their mechanisms of inhibiting microtubule-dependent processes, mechanisms of drug resistance, and their interactions with tubulin including their distinct binding sites and modes. A new potential role for microtubule stabilizers in neurodegenerative diseases is reviewed.
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr, San Antonio, TX, USA. Mooberry@uthscsa.edu.
Cristina C
CC
Rohena
Susan L
SL
Mooberry
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D000077143:Docetaxel; D008870:Microtubules / Q000187:drug effects*; D015394:Molecular Structure; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000494:pharmacology; D043823:Taxoids / Q000494:pharmacology; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology
D000972:Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; D043823:Taxoids; D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D000077143:Docetaxel; D017239:Paclitaxel