Molecular Playground/Taxol: Difference between revisions
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[[Image:taxol.png|frame|Paclitaxel (Taxol)]] | [[Image:taxol.png|frame|Paclitaxel (Taxol)]] | ||
One of the [[CBI Molecules]] being studied in the [http://www.umass.edu/cbi/ University of Massachusetts Amherst Chemistry-Biology Interface Program] at UMass Amherst and on display at the [http://www.molecularplayground.org/ Molecular Playground]. | |||
Paclitaxel, also called as Taxol, is a plant derived anticancer drug. It was first isolated from the bark of Pacific yew tree, ''Taxus brevifolia''. Paclitaxel is a complex diterpenoid product, with a bulky, fused ring system as well as a number of hydrophobic substituents. It has been FDA approved for the treatment of ovarian, breast and non-small cell lung cancer. Taxol binds to the ends of microtubules and inhibits further microtubule elongation. This prevents the cell from dividing and causes the cell to die. Because cancer cells divide much quicker than normal cells, taxol predominantly attacks tumors. | Paclitaxel, also called as Taxol, is a plant derived anticancer drug. It was first isolated from the bark of Pacific yew tree, ''Taxus brevifolia''. Paclitaxel is a complex diterpenoid product, with a bulky, fused ring system as well as a number of hydrophobic substituents. It has been FDA approved for the treatment of ovarian, breast and non-small cell lung cancer. Taxol binds to the ends of microtubules and inhibits further microtubule elongation. This prevents the cell from dividing and causes the cell to die. Because cancer cells divide much quicker than normal cells, taxol predominantly attacks tumors. | ||
Revision as of 19:56, 11 May 2010
One of the CBI Molecules being studied in the University of Massachusetts Amherst Chemistry-Biology Interface Program at UMass Amherst and on display at the Molecular Playground.
Paclitaxel, also called as Taxol, is a plant derived anticancer drug. It was first isolated from the bark of Pacific yew tree, Taxus brevifolia. Paclitaxel is a complex diterpenoid product, with a bulky, fused ring system as well as a number of hydrophobic substituents. It has been FDA approved for the treatment of ovarian, breast and non-small cell lung cancer. Taxol binds to the ends of microtubules and inhibits further microtubule elongation. This prevents the cell from dividing and causes the cell to die. Because cancer cells divide much quicker than normal cells, taxol predominantly attacks tumors.
Presently, taxol supply is made available either through a semi-synthetic route using precursors isolated from needles of yew species or through Taxus cell suspension cultures. Taxus cell suspension culture is an alternative to stripping bark from Taxus trees and extracting precursors from needles.
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Molecular Playground Banner: "Paclitaxel (Taxol),a plant-derived natural product to treat cancer"