Mechanism of action thumb|Complex of α, β tubulin subunits and paclitaxel. Paclitaxel is shown as yellow stick. Paclitaxel is one of several cytoskeletal drugs that target tubulin. Paclitaxel-treated cells have defects in mitotic spindle assembly, chromosome segregation, and cell division. Unlike other tubulin-targeting drugs, such as colchicine, that inhibit microtubule assembly, paclitaxel stabilizes the microtubule polymer and protects it from disassembly. Chromosomes are thus unable to achieve a metaphase spindle configuration. This blocks the progression of mitosis and prolonged activation of the mitotic checkpoint triggers apoptosis or reversion to the G0-phase of the cell cycle without cell division.
mechanism of action thumb|complex of α β tubulin subunits and paclitaxel paclitaxel is shown as yellow stick paclitaxel is one of several cytoskeletal drugs that target tubulin paclitaxel-treated cells have defects in mitotic spindle assembly chromosome segregation and cell division unlike other tubulin-targeting drugs such as colchicine that inhibit microtubule assembly paclitaxel stabilizes the microtubule polymer and protects it from disassembly chromosomes are thus unable to achieve a metaphase spindle configuration this blocks the progression of mitosis and prolonged activation of the mitotic checkpoint triggers apoptosis or reversion to the g0-phase of the cell cycle without cell division