Question

chemotherapy drugs such as vincristine (derived from madagascar periwinkle plants) and colchicine (derived from autumn crocus plants) disrupt mitosis by binding to tubulin, the subunit of microtubules, and interfering with microtubule assembly and disassembly. exactly what mitotic structure is targeted by these drugs and what effect would that have on cell division?

Answer 1

Chemotherapy drugs like vincristine and colchicine target the mitotic structure known as spindle fibers, which are formed with the help of tubulin. By binding to tubulin, these drugs disrupt microtubule assembly and disassembly, preventing the formation of spindle fibers and ultimately halting cell division.

Step-by-step explanation:

Chemotherapy drugs such as vincristine and colchicine target the mitotic structure known as the spindle fibers, which are formed with the help of the protein tubulin. By binding to tubulin, these drugs interfere with microtubule assembly and disassembly, preventing the formation of spindle fibers. This disruption of the spindle fibers inhibits the proper separation of chromosomes during mitosis, leading to a halt in cell division.

Chemotherapy drugs like vincristine and colchicine target the mitotic spindles during cell division. These spindles are made of microtubules that are crucial for separating chromosomes during mitosis. By binding to the tubulin subunit of microtubules, these drugs prevent the proper assembly and disassembly of the spindles, thus inhibiting cell division. This interference occurs particularly during the prophase and metaphase of mitosis where spindle fibers form and attach to chromosomes to pull them apart. Therefore, cancer cells, which divide rapidly, are hindered in their multiplication, effectively slowing down the progression of cancer.

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