Cytochalasin J is a cell-permeable fungal toxin used in actin polymerization studies and cytological research.
cytochalasin j can alter mitotic spindle microtubule organization and kinetochore structure.the cytochalasins are cell-permeable fungal metabolites inhibiting actin polymerization, which can alter diverse processes including cell movement, growth, phagocytosis, degranulation, and secretion.
cytochalasin j was identified as a deacetylated analog of cytochalasin h that weakly inhibited actin assembly but significantly altered mitotic spindle microtubule organization and kinetochore structure [1]. in a previous study, cytochalasin j treatment of prometaphase cells reduced the number of kmts and the size and organization of the kinetochore lamina. moreover, in approximately 30% of cells treated with cytochalasin j, the failure of a small number of chromosomes to attach to spindle fibers could be documented. these chromosomes showed a significant change in the organization of the kinetochore laminae. light microscopic analyses of cells treated with cytochalasin j revealed loss of chromosome congression, with chromsomes usually located at the periphery of the spindle. cells treated with 10 microg/ml cytochalasin j for 10 min and released into tissue culture medium showed a resumption of chromosome motion within a few minutes, both during congression and anaphase [2].
[1] walling, e. a.,krafft, g.a. and ware, b.r. actin assembly activity of cytochalasins and cytochalasin analogs assayed using fluorescence photobleaching recovery. archives of biochemistry and biophysics 264(1), 321-332 (1988).
[2] wrench, g. a. and snyder, j.a. cytochalasin j treatment significantly alters mitotic spindle microtubule organization and kinetochore structure in ptk1 cells. cell motility and the cytoskeleton 36(2), 112-124 (1997).
