Which one of the following statements is a correct description of modes of action of taxol andcolchicine?a)Taxol causes DNA damage and colchicine prevents microtubule formationb)Taxol stabilizes microtubules and colchicine inhibits protein synthesisc)Taxol destabilizes microtubules and colchicine promotes microtubule formationd)Taxol stabilizes microtubules and colchicine prevents microtubule formationCorrect answer is option 'D'. Can you explain this answer?

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Answer

**Correct Answer:**
The correct description of the modes of action of taxol and colchicine is:

**d) Taxol stabilizes microtubules and colchicine prevents microtubule formation.**

**Taxol:**
Taxol, also known as paclitaxel, is a natural compound derived from the bark of the Pacific yew tree. It is an anti-cancer drug that is widely used in the treatment of various types of cancer, including ovarian, breast, and lung cancer.

**Mode of Action of Taxol:**
Taxol exerts its mode of action by binding to a specific site on beta-tubulin, a protein subunit of microtubules. This binding stabilizes microtubules, preventing their depolymerization and promoting the assembly of new microtubules. As a result, taxol enhances microtubule polymerization and inhibits their disassembly.

By stabilizing microtubules, taxol interferes with the normal dynamics of the microtubule network, which is crucial for cellular processes such as cell division, intracellular transport, and maintenance of cell shape. Taxol-induced stabilization of microtubules leads to the disruption of these processes, ultimately causing cell cycle arrest and cell death in cancer cells.

**Colchicine:**
Colchicine is a naturally occurring compound found in the autumn crocus plant. It has been used for centuries to relieve the pain and inflammation associated with gout.

**Mode of Action of Colchicine:**
Colchicine acts by binding to a different site on beta-tubulin than taxol. It interferes with the assembly of microtubules by preventing the polymerization of tubulin subunits into microtubules. Colchicine binds to tubulin dimers and prevents their addition to the growing ends of microtubules, leading to the disruption of microtubule formation.

By inhibiting microtubule formation, colchicine disrupts the normal microtubule network required for various cellular processes. This disruption affects processes such as mitosis, cell division, intracellular transport, and maintenance of cell shape.

**Comparison:**
The modes of action of taxol and colchicine can be summarized as follows:

- Taxol stabilizes microtubules by promoting their assembly and preventing disassembly.
- Colchicine prevents microtubule formation by inhibiting the polymerization of tubulin subunits.

These different modes of action ultimately lead to the disruption of the microtubule network within cells, affecting crucial cellular processes and ultimately causing cell death.

Therefore, option d) 'Taxol stabilizes microtubules and colchicine prevents microtubule formation' is the correct description of the modes of action of taxol and colchicine.

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