Which drug binds tubulin subunits and prevents polymerization?
Microtubule targeting agents divided into destabilizers preventing polymerization and stabilizers blocking depolymerization used as chemotherapeutics and cell biology tools. Nocodazole colchicine and colcemid belong to destabilizer class binding soluble tubulin dimer interface. Nocodazole binds beta tubulin at colchicine adjacent site near intradimer interface distorting dimer curvature preventing straight conformation compatible with lattice addition and reducing lateral contacts. Result reduces effective free tubulin pool shifts equilibrium below critical concentration triggering disassembly
Ref: Jordan & Wilson, Nat Rev Cancer 2004 – Microtubule destabilizers nocodazole binds tubulin prevents polymerization.