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Mescaline as a mitotic spindle inhibitor

Nature volume 260, pages 138–139 (1976)Cite this article

Abstract

COLCHICINE and its methyl derivative colcemid not only inhibit microtubule self-assembly1 but also affect fast transport in nerve2. A report that mescaline likewise inhibits the rapid component of axoplasmic transport in nerve3, led us to investigate the effects of this drug on mitosis, and on purified microtubule protein (tubulin4). The structure of mescaline does resemble an abbreviated version of colchicine (Fig. 1). We report here that mescaline can, like colcemid, be used as a mitotic spindle inhibitor and has certain advantages as a cytogenetic reagent.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Biochemistry and Genetics, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB9 1AS, UK

    C. M. H. HARRISSON, B. M. PAGE & H. M. KEIR

Authors
  1. C. M. H. HARRISSON
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  2. B. M. PAGE
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  3. H. M. KEIR
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HARRISSON, C., PAGE, B. & KEIR, H. Mescaline as a mitotic spindle inhibitor. Nature 260, 138–139 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/260138a0

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