Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules01:10

Drugs that Destabilize Microtubules

2.0K
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...
2.0K
Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules01:15

Drugs that Stabilize Microtubules

2.0K
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...
2.0K
Destabilization of Microtubules01:45

Destabilization of Microtubules

2.7K
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...
2.7K
Necrosis01:16

Necrosis

4.4K
Necrosis is considered as an “accidental” or unexpected form of cell death that ends in cell lysis. The first noticeable mention of “necrosis” was in 1859 when Rudolf Virchow used this term to describe advanced tissue breakdown in his compilation titled “Cell Pathology”.
Morphological Manifestations of Necrosis
Necrotic cells show different types of morphological appearance depending on the type of tissue and infection. In coagulative necrosis, cells become...
4.4K
Microtubule Instability02:17

Microtubule Instability

5.0K
Microtubules are hollow cylindrical filaments having a diameter of approximately 25 nm and a length that varies from 200 nm to 25 μm. GTP-bound tubulin subunits form αβ-heterodimers for microtubule assembly. These core building blocks interact longitudinally, polymerizing into protofilaments. The protofilaments then interact with one another through lateral bonding forces to form stable cylindrical microtubules. These cylindrical filaments are dynamic as they undergo repeated...
5.0K
Microtubule Formation01:23

Microtubule Formation

5.6K
Microtubules are dynamic structures that undergo continuous assembly and disassembly. They originate from specialized multi-protein complexes known as microtubule organizing centers or MTOCs. Within the MTOC, the point of origin of the microtubule is known as the minus end, while the end radiating outward is the plus end. Microtubules serve two primary functions — the organization of spindle complexes to separate sister chromatids during mitotic or meiotic cell division and the formation...
5.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

4-Amino-3',4'-dihydroxychalcone Increases Tau Dynamics in Phase-Separated Droplets and Inhibits Tau Aggregation.

ACS chemical neuroscience·2025
Same author

CEP41, a ciliopathy-linked centrosomal protein, regulates microtubule assembly and cell proliferation.

Journal of cell science·2024
Same author

EB1 Increases the Dynamics of Tau Droplets and Inhibits Tau Aggregation: Implications in Tauopathies.

ACS chemical neuroscience·2024
Same author

Natural-Product-Inspired Discovery of Trimethoxyphenyl-1,2,4-triazolosulfonamides as Potent Tubulin Polymerization Inhibitors.

ChemMedChem·2023
Same author

Copper-Plumbagin Complex Produces Potent Anticancer Effects by Depolymerizing Microtubules and Inducing Reactive Oxygen Species and DNA Damage.

ACS omega·2023
Same author

Models versus pathogens: how conserved is the FtsZ in bacteria?

Bioscience reports·2023

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 20, 2025

Author Spotlight: Tracing the Ferroptotic Signatures and Cell Death Dynamics in Medulloblastoma for Advanced Therapeutics
04:01

Author Spotlight: Tracing the Ferroptotic Signatures and Cell Death Dynamics in Medulloblastoma for Advanced Therapeutics

Published on: March 15, 2024

929

Microtubule depolymerization induces ferroptosis in neuroblastoma cells.

Mayuri Bandekar1, Dulal Panda1,2

  • 1Department of Biosciences & Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India.

IUBMB Life
|July 22, 2024
PubMed
Summary

Estramustine, an anti-cancer drug, triggers ferroptosis by disrupting microtubules and increasing iron. This mechanism offers a new avenue for developing pro-ferroptosis cancer therapeutics.

Keywords:
estramustineferroptosislabile iron poolmicrotubules depolymerizationneuroblastomareactive oxygen species

More Related Videos

Ferritinophagy: Assessing the Selective Degradation of Iron by Autophagy in Human Fibroblasts
09:21

Ferritinophagy: Assessing the Selective Degradation of Iron by Autophagy in Human Fibroblasts

Published on: February 23, 2024

885
Quantitative Microtubule Fractionation Technique to Separate Stable Microtubules, Labile Microtubules, and Free Tubulin in Mouse Tissues
07:21

Quantitative Microtubule Fractionation Technique to Separate Stable Microtubules, Labile Microtubules, and Free Tubulin in Mouse Tissues

Published on: November 17, 2023

2.0K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2025

Author Spotlight: Tracing the Ferroptotic Signatures and Cell Death Dynamics in Medulloblastoma for Advanced Therapeutics
04:01

Author Spotlight: Tracing the Ferroptotic Signatures and Cell Death Dynamics in Medulloblastoma for Advanced Therapeutics

Published on: March 15, 2024

929
Ferritinophagy: Assessing the Selective Degradation of Iron by Autophagy in Human Fibroblasts
09:21

Ferritinophagy: Assessing the Selective Degradation of Iron by Autophagy in Human Fibroblasts

Published on: February 23, 2024

885
Quantitative Microtubule Fractionation Technique to Separate Stable Microtubules, Labile Microtubules, and Free Tubulin in Mouse Tissues
07:21

Quantitative Microtubule Fractionation Technique to Separate Stable Microtubules, Labile Microtubules, and Free Tubulin in Mouse Tissues

Published on: November 17, 2023

2.0K

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Estramustine (EM) is a successful anti-prostate cancer drug with anti-proliferative and cell-death-inducing properties.
  • Cancer cells exhibit altered iron metabolism.
  • Microtubule disruption is a known effect of EM.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between microtubule depolymerization and ferroptosis induction by EM in human neuroblastoma cells.
  • To explore the role of iron metabolism and oxidative stress in EM-induced cell death.

Main Methods:

  • Human neuroblastoma cell lines (SH-SY5Y and IMR-32) were treated with Estramustine.
  • Levels of glutathione (GSH), reactive oxygen species (ROS), labile iron pool (LIP), glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), and lipid peroxidation were measured.
  • ROS scavengers and ferroptosis inhibitors were used to validate the mechanism.

Main Results:

  • EM reduced GSH levels and increased ROS generation, which were mitigated by ROS scavengers.
  • EM treatment led to increased LIP, depleted GPX4, and elevated lipid peroxidation, indicating ferroptosis.
  • Ferroptosis inhibitors abrogated EM's cytotoxic effects.
  • Other microtubule-depolymerizing agents (vinblastine, nocodazole) also increased LIP and lipid peroxidation.

Conclusions:

  • Microtubule integrity is coupled to ferroptosis induction.
  • Estramustine induces ferroptosis in neuroblastoma cells via microtubule depolymerization and iron dysregulation.
  • Microtubule-depolymerizing agents show potential as pro-ferroptosis chemotherapeutics for cancer treatment.