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Updated: Aug 26, 2025

Spatiotemporal Subcellular Manipulation of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton in the Living Preimplantation Mouse Embryo using Photostatins
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Spatiotemporal Subcellular Manipulation of the Microtubule Cytoskeleton in the Living Preimplantation Mouse Embryo using Photostatins

Published on: November 30, 2021

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The microtubule cytoskeleton: An old validated target for novel therapeutic drugs

Laurence Lafanechère1

  • 1Team Cytoskeleton Dynamics and Nuclear Functions, Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR 5309, Grenoble, France.

Frontiers in Pharmacology
|October 3, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Compounds targeting microtubules are crucial for cancer therapy but cause side effects. New research focuses on improved microtubule-targeting drugs for cancer and other diseases like neuronal disorders and infections.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Pharmacology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Microtubule-targeting compounds are established cancer therapeutics.
  • Current therapies exhibit significant adverse effects due to targeting non-cancerous cells.
  • Advancements in understanding tubulin structure and microtubule dynamics are key.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in microtubule-targeting drugs.
  • To explore emerging therapeutic strategies beyond cancer treatment.
  • To highlight the collaborative efforts of chemists and biologists in drug development.

Main Methods:

  • Review of current literature on microtubule-targeting agents.
  • Analysis of drug mechanisms of action, including established drugs like colchicine.
  • Examination of new therapeutic approaches for various diseases.

Main Results:

  • Emerging therapeutic strategies target microtubule dynamics for improved efficacy and reduced toxicity.
  • New drug candidates show potential for treating cancer, neuronal diseases, heart conditions, and parasitic infections.
  • Understanding drug mechanisms, such as colchicine and kinase inhibitors, aids in developing novel agents.

Conclusions:

  • Targeting the microtubule cytoskeleton offers promising therapeutic avenues for diverse diseases.
  • Interdisciplinary collaboration is accelerating the development of safer and more effective microtubule-targeting drugs.
  • Future research will likely yield improved treatments by refining our knowledge of microtubule regulation.
Keywords:
drug developmentmicrotubule regulationsmicrotubulestargeted therapiestubulintubulin post-translational modificationstubulin-binding drugs

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