maytansinol

Maytansinol is a cytotoxic macrolide and the parent alcohol of the maytansinoid family of compounds. Originally isolated from plants of the genus *Maytenus*, it acts as a potent microtubule inhibitor by binding to tubulin at the maytansine site, which is distinct from but overlaps with the vinca alkaloid binding site. This binding inhibits microtubule assembly, leading to cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase and subsequent apoptosis. While maytansinol itself is primarily used as a reference compound in research—such as in Drosophila cancer models studied by SuviCa—its most significant clinical application is as a precursor for the synthesis of thiol-containing maytansinoids like DM1 (mertansine) and DM4. These derivatives serve as the cytotoxic payloads for various antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), enabling the targeted delivery of highly potent tubulin inhibitors to malignant cells.

Other names

Maytansin-9-olMaytansin9-olMaytansin 9-ol9-hydroxymaytansine