Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 9, 2025

Live Imaging to Study Microtubule Dynamic Instability in Taxane-resistant Breast Cancers
06:02

Live Imaging to Study Microtubule Dynamic Instability in Taxane-resistant Breast Cancers

Published on: February 20, 2017

7.9K

Potent Small-Molecule Inhibitors Targeting Acetylated Microtubules as Anticancer Agents Against Triple-Negative

Ahreum Kwon1, Gwi Bin Lee2, Taein Park2

  • 1Cell Logistics and Silver Health Research Center, School of Life Sciences, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju 61005, Korea.

Biomedicines
|September 12, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Researchers discovered new chemicals that specifically target acetylated microtubules, a hallmark of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). These compounds selectively kill cancer cells, offering a promising new therapeutic strategy for TNBC treatment.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Microtubules are crucial for cell proliferation and migration, making them a key target for anticancer drugs.
  • Current microtubule-targeting drugs cause side effects due to toxicity to normal cells.
  • Developing cancer-specific microtubule agents is essential for improved therapeutic outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify novel chemical compounds that selectively target acetylated microtubules.
  • To investigate the potential of these compounds as therapeutic agents for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Main Methods:

  • Chemical screening for compounds binding to acetylated microtubules.
  • Assessing the effect of compounds on microtubule acetylation and cell apoptosis in TNBC and non-TNBC cell lines.
  • Evaluating tumor growth inhibition in mouse xenograft models.

Main Results:

  • Identified chemical compounds that specifically bind to acetylated microtubules.
  • Compounds interfered with alpha-tubulin acetyltransferase 1 (αTAT1) access, disrupting acetylated microtubule lattices.
  • Demonstrated increased apoptotic cell death in TNBC cells (MDA-MB-231) compared to non-TNBC cells (MCF-10A, MCF-7).
  • Significant reduction in tumor growth observed in mouse xenograft models.

Conclusions:

  • The identified chemical compounds exhibit selectivity for acetylated microtubules.
  • These compounds represent potential therapeutic agents for treating TNBC by targeting microtubule acetylation.
  • This approach offers a strategy for developing cancer-specific microtubule-targeting therapies.
Keywords:
anti-cancer agentapoptosismicrotubule acetylationtriple-negative breast cancer

More Related Videos

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?14:20

Polymalic Acid-based Nano Biopolymers for Targeting of Multiple Tumor Markers: An Opportunity for Personalized Medicine?

Published on: June 13, 2014

17.0K
Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics06:00

Through the Looking Glass: Time-lapse Microscopy and Longitudinal Tracking of Single Cells to Study Anti-cancer Therapeutics

Published on: May 14, 2016

11.3K

Related Concept Videos

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo cycles of catastrophe and rescue. The microtubules play a central role in cell division by forming the spindle apparatus for segregating the chromosomes. This makes them ideal targets for regulating dividing cells in tumors and malignant cancer cells. Microtubule stabilizing drugs help stabilize the microtubule formation and promote its polymerization. Paclitaxel was the first microtubule stabilizing agent used as anticancer drug in chemotherapy...
2.5K
Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules01:10

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

Microtubules are dynamic structures and can be regulated by microtubule targeting agents (MTAs). Microtubule destabilizing drugs are a class of MTAs that destabilize and prevent microtubules' polymerization. Both natural and synthetic chemicals can be found under this class of drugs. Vincristine and vinblastine, two vinca alkaloids, and colchicine were among the first to be discovered. These drugs can affect cells in various ways, either by inducing a change in cell morphology, preventing...
3.3K
Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against...
8.5K
Destabilization of Microtubules01:45

Destabilization of Microtubules

The destabilization of microtubules can occur during different stages of the microtubule lifecycle, such as nucleation or elongation. It can take place at either end of the microtubule or in the microtubule lattices as a whole. The lifespan of individual microtubules within a cell varies according to the cell type and stage of the cell cycle. During interphase, the lifespan of the microtubule is about 30 minutes, while during cell division, it is about 15 minutes. In axonal microtubules of...
3.3K
Inhibition of Cdk Activity02:34

Inhibition of Cdk Activity

The orderly progression of the cell cycle depends on the activation of Cdk protein by binding to its cyclin partner. However, the cell cycle must be restricted when undergoing abnormal changes. Most cancers correlate to the deregulated cell cycle, and since Cdks are a central component of the cell cycle, Cdk inhibitors are extensively studied to develop anticancer agents. For instance, cyclin D associates with several Cdks, such as Cdk 4/6, to form an active complex. The cyclin D-Cdk4/6 complex...
5.4K