Maytansine
Encyclopedia
Maytansine is a cytotoxic agent. It inhibits the assembly of microtubule
s by binding to tubulin
at the rhizoxin
binding site.
It is a macrolide
of the ansamycin
type and can be isolated from plants of the genus Maytenus
.
Derivatives are known as maytansinoid
s.
Microtubule
Microtubules are a component of the cytoskeleton. These rope-like polymers of tubulin can grow as long as 25 micrometers and are highly dynamic. The outer diameter of microtubule is about 25 nm. Microtubules are important for maintaining cell structure, providing platforms for intracellular...
s by binding to tubulin
Tubulin
Tubulin is one of several members of a small family of globular proteins. The most common members of the tubulin family are α-tubulin and β-tubulin, the proteins that make up microtubules. Each has a molecular weight of approximately 55 kiloDaltons. Microtubules are assembled from dimers of α- and...
at the rhizoxin
Rhizoxin
Rhizoxin is an antimitotic agent with anti-tumor activity. It is isolated from a pathogenic plant fungus which causes rice seedling blight.-Biosynthesis:...
binding site.
It is a macrolide
Macrolide
The macrolides are a group of drugs whose activity stems from the presence of a macrolide ring, a large macrocyclic lactone ring to which one or more deoxy sugars, usually cladinose and desosamine, may be attached. The lactone rings are usually 14-, 15-, or 16-membered...
of the ansamycin
Ansamycin
Ansamycins is a family of secondary metabolites that show antimicrobial activity against many gram-positive and some gram-negative bacteria and includes various compounds, among which: streptovaricins and rifamycins...
type and can be isolated from plants of the genus Maytenus
Maytenus
Maytenus is a genus of flowering plants in the staff vine family, Celastraceae. Members of the genus are distributed throughout Central and South America, Southeast Asia, Micronesia and Australasia, the Indian Ocean and Africa...
.
Derivatives are known as maytansinoid
Maytansinoid
A maytansinoid is a chemical derivative of maytansine.Some are being investigated as the cytotoxic component of antibody-drug conjugates.Examples:*Ansamitocin*Mertansine...
s.