Mitotic centromere-associated kinesin (MCAK) mediates paclitaxel resistance.

ABSTRACT: Paclitaxel has powerful anticancer activity, but some tumors are inherently resistant to the drug, whereas others are initially sensitive but acquire resistance during treatment. To deal with this problem, it will be necessary to understand the mechanisms of drug action and resistance. Recent studies indicate that paclitaxel blocks cell division by inhibiting the detachment of microtubules from centrosomes. Here, we demonstrate that mitotic centromere-associated kinesin (MCAK), a kinesin-related protein that destabilizes microtubules, plays an important role in microtubule detachment. Depletion of MCAK altered mitotic spindle morphology, increased the frequency of lagging chromosomes, and inhibited the proliferation of WT CHO cells, confirming that it is an essential protein for cell divis

SUBMITTER: Ganguly A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3196137 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature