Taxol can be used as an anticancer drug. At the molecular level, what does the drug prevent? At the cellular level, what part of cell division does it prevent?
The drug taxol is extracted from the bark of yew trees. It binds tightly to microtubules and stabilizes them. When added to cells, it causes much of the free tubulin to assemble into microtubules. Taxol can be used as an anticancer drug. At the molecular level, what does the drug prevent? At the cellular level, what part of cell division does it prevent? Be specific.
1) Question asked: At the molecular level, what does the drug prevent?
Answer: Microtubules, Microfilaments and intermediate filaments are the supporting pillars of a cell's cytoskeleton. Here, the microtubules are formed by the polymerization of a protien called 'Tubulin'. This Microtubules are essential for a cell to grow and divide as it plays vital role in the events of cell division. Polymerization of tubulin and depolymerization of tubulin protiens is responsible for the shortening and lengthening of Microtubules. This helps in the movement of chromosomes during the mitosis stage of cell division.
Taxol is a drug that specifically binds to the beta subunits of the tubulin. This will prevent the depolymerization of tubulin and stabilise the Microtubules. Thus, microtubules will start to accumulate in polymerized forms and the movement of chromatids will not occur during cell division.
Step by step
Solved in 2 steps
