ATC code L01CC01 (WHO) PubChem CID 220401 UNII Z01IVE25KI Molar mass 371.43 g/mol | CAS Number 477-30-5 ChemSpider 191135 ChEMBL CHEMBL312862 | |
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Medical vocabulary what does demecolcine mean
Demecolcine, also known as Colcemid, is a drug used in chemotherapy. It is closely related to the natural alkaloid colchicine with the replacement of the acetyl group on the amino moiety with methyl, but it is less toxic. It depolymerises microtubules and limits microtubule formation (inactivates spindle fibre formation), thus arresting cells in metaphase and allowing cell harvest and karyotyping to be performed.
Contents
- Medical vocabulary what does demecolcine mean
- How to pronounce demecolcine
- Mechanism of action
- References
During cell division, demecolcine inhibits mitosis at metaphase by inhibiting spindle formation. Medically, demecolcine has been used to improve the results of cancer radiotherapy by synchronising tumour cells at metaphase, the radiosensitive stage of the cell cycle.
In animal cloning procedures, demecolcine makes an ovum eject its nucleus, creating space for insertion of a new nucleus.
How to pronounce demecolcine
Mechanism of action
Demecolcine is a microtubule-depolymerizing drug like vinblastine. It acts by two distinct mechanisms. At very low concentration it binds to microtubule plus end to suppress microtubule dynamics. Recent study has found at higher concentration Colcemid can promote microtubule detachment from microtubule organizing center. Detached microtubules with unprotected minus end depolymerizes with time. Cytotoxicity of the cells seems to correlate better with microtubule detachment. Lower concentration affects microtubule dynamics and cell migration.