ENVS 3040 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Vinca Alkaloid, Taxane, Convergent Synthesis
18 Oct 2017
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Outline the mode of action of mitotic inhibitors (i. e. , taxoids and vinca alkaloids) against cancer. Differentiate between the production of taxol through semisynthesis and total synthesis. Understand the environmental and scientific challenges associated with using naturally-sourced medicines. Taxoids: new weapons against cancer (nicolaou et al. When reading this article pay close attention to the mode of action of taxol and the taxoids. Convergent synthesis is taking large chunks of molecules and sticking them together while linear synthesis is using all the tiny building blocks to create a new thing. Convergent uses larger chunks, while linear uses individual molecules. Mitotic inhibitors provide a mode of action that inhibits cell mitosis (or division). Vinca alkaloids are also another form of mitotic inhibitors, they are also used in chemotherapy. Microtubules are composed of spiralling rings of tubulin heterodimers (alpha and beta tubulin units). Taxoids increase polymerization of tubulin by causing free tubulin to assemble into microtubules.
