ArticlePloS one2008
Taxol crystals can masquerade as stabilized microtubules.
Article in PloS one, 2008. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed.
- HPV16 E2 protein possesses intrinsic helicase activity and sterically hinders E1 function through direct interaction.The Journal of biological chemistry · 2026Article
- Chromosomal instability reducing effect of paclitaxel and lapatinib in mouse embryonic stem cells with chromosomal abnormality.Molecular biology reports · 2020Article
- Radial alignment of microtubules through tubulin polymerization in an evaporating droplet.PloS one · 2020Article
- Dental pulp stem cells used to deliver the anticancer drug paclitaxel.Stem cell research & therapy · 2018Article
- Article
- An improved optical tweezers assay for measuring the force generation of single kinesin molecules.Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.) · 2014Article
- Paclitaxel and TRAIL synergize to kill paclitaxel-resistant small cell lung cancer cells through a caspase-independent mechanism mediated through AIF.Anticancer research · 2011Article
- Effects of surface passivation on gliding motility assays.PloS one · 2011Article
- Mitotic spindle proteomics in Chinese hamster ovary cells.PloS one · 2011Article
- Mathematical modeling of microtubule dynamics: insights into physiology and disease.Progress in neurobiology · 2010Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Taxol is a potent anti-mitotic drug used in chemotherapy, angioplastic stents, and cell biology research. By binding and stabilizing microtubules, Taxol inhibits their dynamics, crucial for cell division, motility, and survival. The drug has also been reported to induce formation of asters and bundles composed of stabilized microtubules. Surprisingly, at commonly used concentrations, Taxol forms crystals that rapidly bind fluorescent tubulin subunits, generating structures with an uncanny resemblance to microtubule asters and bundles. Kinetic and topological considerations suggest that tubulin subunits, rather than microtubules, bind the crystals. This sequestration of tubulin from the subunit pool would be expected to shift the equilibrium of free to polymerized tubulin to disfavor assembly. Our results imply that some previously reported Taxol-induced asters or bundles could include or be composed of tubulin-decorated Taxol crystals. Thus, reevaluation of certain morphological, chemical, and physical properties of Taxol-treated microtubules may be necessary. Moreover, our findings suggest a novel mechanism for chemotherapy-induced cytotoxicity in non-dividing cells, with far-reaching medical implications.
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Registered trials
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