Monastrol

Monastrol is a small molecule inhibitor that specifically inhibits the kinesin Eg5, a motor protein required for mitosis in eukaryotic cells. Monastrol was the first small molecule inhibitor discovered for kinesin proteins and has been instrumental in the study of mitosis and cell division.

History

Monastrol was first discovered in 1999 by a team of researchers led by Timothy Mitchison and Thomas Mayer at the Harvard Medical School. The team was searching for small molecule inhibitors of mitosis and identified monastrol through a phenotypic screen of a chemical library.

Mechanism of action

Monastrol inhibits the motor protein Eg5 by binding to its motor domain, which is the part of the protein that interacts with microtubules and uses ATP to power its movement. This binding prevents Eg5 from moving along the microtubules and disrupts the formation of the mitotic spindle, a structure that is crucial for cell division.

Use in research

Monastrol is widely used in cell biology research to study the role of Eg5 and the mitotic spindle in cell division. By inhibiting Eg5, researchers can disrupt the normal process of mitosis and study the effects on cell division. This has led to a better understanding of the mechanisms of cell division and has implications for the development of cancer therapies.

Potential therapeutic applications

Because of its ability to inhibit cell division, monastrol has potential as a cancer therapeutic. Many cancers are characterized by uncontrolled cell division, and inhibiting this process could slow or stop the growth of cancer cells. However, more research is needed to determine the safety and efficacy of monastrol as a cancer treatment.

See also

• Mitosis
• Kinesin
• Microtubule
• Cell division

References

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