Binding of maytansine to tubulin: competition with other mitotic inhibitors
Lin, C.M.; Hamel, E.; Wolpert-DeFilippes, M.K.
Research Communications in Chemical Pathology and Pharmacology 31(3): 443-451
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0034-5164 PMID: 7255878 Document Number: 178527
The effect of tubulin was examined by Sephadex gel filtration column chromatography. When varying concentrations of maytansine were employed, competition between vinblastine and maytansine was observed at a vinblastine to maytansine ratio of 1:10 and 1:100; a colchicine to maytansine ratio of 1:100 did not affect the binding of colchicine to tubulin. These results confirm earlier findings with a DEAE-cellulose disc paper assay and a tubulin polymerization assay that maytansine shares a common binding site with vinblastine and support the view that tubulin has at least 2 drug binding sites.