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NCI Drug Dictionary


maytansine 
An ansamycin antibiotic originally isolated from the Ethiopian shrub Maytenus serrata. Maytansine binds to tubulin at the rhizoxin binding site, thereby inhibiting microtubule assembly, inducing microtubule disassembly, and disrupting mitosis. Maytansine exhibits cytotoxicity against many tumor cell lines and may inhibit tumor growth in vivo. Check for active clinical trials or closed clinical trials using this agent. (NCI Thesaurus)
Synonyms:maitansine
Maysanine
Maytansin
Chemical structures:alanine, N-acetyl-N-methyl-, 6-ester with 11-chloro-6, 21-dihydroxy-12,20-dimethoxy-2,5,9,16-tetramethyl-4,24-dioxa-9,22-diazatetracyclo[19.3.1.1(10,24).0(3,5)]hexacosa-10,12,14[26], 16,18-pentaene-8,23-dione
L-alanine, N-acetyl-N-methyl-, 11-chloro-21-hydroxy-12,20-dimethoxy-2,5,9,16-tetramethyl-8,23-dioxo-4,24-dioxa-9,22-diazatetracyclo[19.3.1.110,14.03, 5]hexacosa-10,12,14(26),16,18-pentaen-6-yl ester, [1S-(1R*,2S*,3R*,5R*,6R*,16E,18E,20S*,21R*)]