Fig. 7

Concept: Ultrasound reverses cytotoxicity by disrupting rigid microtubule filaments induced by Taxol treatment of proliferating cells. Microtubule (MT) bundles are radiated from the organizing center and associate with the nuclear envelope through LINC (LInking Nuclear and Cytoplasmic) complexes. A Ultrasound (US) is known to transiently disrupt microtubule networks, which reform in a few (1, 2) h. B Taxol induces rigid microtubule filaments that lead to growth arrest and subsequent cell death. C We suggest a mechanism through which ultrasound reverses cytotoxicity by disrupting rigid microtubule filaments induced by Taxol. The Taxol-bound microtubule fragments and tubulins are relocated to lysosomes (Lyso) for degradation (illustrated by the bold dots), and tubulins without bound Taxol form a new microtubule network. Thus, a brief ultrasound exposure is able to eliminate the impact of paclitaxel on microtubules, reversing the cytotoxicity