Maytansine is an ansa macrolide originally isolated from M. serrata that has anticancer activity.1 It inhibits the growth of L1210, L-5178-Y, and P388 murine leukemia cells (EC50s = 0.6, 12, and 1.5 nM, respectively). Maytansine (20 ?M) inhibits erythrocyte and brain tubulin polymerization.2 In vivo, maytansine (0.025-0.1 mg/kg) increases survival in a P388 murine leukemia model.1 It has also been used in the synthesis of cytotoxic payload moieties of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs).3
1.Wolpert-Defilippes, M.K., Adamson, R.H., Cysyk, R.L., et al.Initial studies on the cytotoxic action of maytansine, a novel ansa macrolideBiochem. Pharmacol.24(6)751-754(1975) 2.Luduena, R.F., Anderson, W.H., Prasad, V., et al.Interactions of vinblastine and maytansine with tubulinAnn. N. Y. Acad. Sci.466718-732(1986) 3.Yaghoubi, S., Karimi, M.H., Lotfinia, M., et al.Potential drugs used in the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) architecture for cancer therapyJ. Cell Physiol.235(1)31-64(2020)