Книга: Vincristine: Alkaloid, Mitotic Inhibitor, Chemotherapy, Polymer, Microtubule, Cytoskeleton, Spindle Apparatus, Metaphase

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! Vincristine (brand name, Oncovin), also known as leurocristine, is a vinca alkaloid from the Catharanthus roseus (Madagascar periwinkle), formerly Vinca rosea and hence its name. It is a mitotic inhibitor, and is used in cancer chemotherapy. Tubulin is a structural protein which polymerizes to form microtubules. The cell cytoskeleton and mitotic spindle, amongst other things, are made of microtubules. Vincristine binds to tubulin dimers, inhibiting assembly of microtubule structures. Disruption of the microtubules arrests mitosis in metaphase. The vinca alkaloids therefore affect all rapidly dividing cell types including cancer cells, but also intestinal epithelium and bone marrow.