What are the molecular targets of anticancer drugs? The bark of the Pacific yew

Question

What are the molecular targets of anticancer drugs? The bark of the Pacific yew tree (Taxus brevifolia) was the original source of one of the most effective drugs for treating tumors of the breast, lung, and other sites. Taxol, a chemical extracted from this bark, kills actively replicating cells by inhibiting the dopolymerization of microtubules Why are microtubules good targets for killing cancerous cells? During what phases in the cell cycle would you expect there to be large changes in the polymerization or depolymerization of microtubules? Why are these changes necessary? Drag the terms on the left to the appropriate blanks on the right to complete the sentences.

Explanation / Answer

Microtubules are actively polymerised during the start of metaphase, when the mitotic spindle is produced.

During Anaphase the kinetochore microtubules are depolymerised as daughter chromosomes move to opposite poles of the cell.

At the end of M phase , the spindle microtubules are depolymerised to remove the spindle before entering G1 Phase.

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