cytochalasin D

Cytochalasin D is a **fungal metabolite** and **small molecule inhibitor** that potently **disrupts actin polymerization** by binding to the barbed (plus) end of actin filaments[1][2][3][7][8]. It caps these filaments, preventing the addition of actin monomers, thereby blocking filament elongation and inducing depolymerization, leading to the disruption of cytoskeletal dynamics, changes in cell morphology, suppression of cell motility, migration, and contractility, and induction of apoptosis, particularly in cancer cells[1][2][3][4][5][7][8]. It has become a standard research probe in cell biology and pharmacology for investigating actin-mediated processes such as cytokinesis, cell motility, and cytoskeletal organization[1][3][5][7][8]. Cytochalasin D is not approved for human therapeutic use and is used exclusively for in vitro research. It is derived from fungi including *Metarrhizium anisopliae* and *Zygosporium mansonii*[3][8].

Other names

cytochalasin DZygosporin A