The anticancer drug paclitaxel (Taxol), derived from the Pacific Yew, has many effects on mitosis. One of its most powerful effects is that it prevents disassembly of the mitotic spindle, which prevents spindle fibers from shortening Which phase of mitosis would this directly affect? Why would this stop cell division overall and lead to cell death?


Answer: The anticancer drug taxol is used in the carcinoma of head, neck, bladder etc. It is an important drug for treating cancer. This drug affect the M phase at either metaphase or anaphase.

This drug prevents the disassembly of spindles fibres at the checkpoint between metaphaase and anaphase of mitosis during cell cycle. Hence, the cell can not move from metaphase to anaphase. which is required for the cell growth and development. This lead to the cell growth inhibition through mitosis and hence lead to the death of the cell by apoptosis.

Biology & Microbiology

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Which of the following must occur for a plant or animal to grow and develop normally?

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