| abstract |
The invention concerns a new class of tubulin polymerisation inhibitors and their applications in research and medicine, notably in chemotherapy. The invention proposes new azoaryl derivatives of formula (I): as defined in Claim 1, which may be fully reversibly interconverted between non-tubulin-binding trans and tubulin-binding cis isomeric forms, either by irradiation or spontaneously. The invention also concerns compounds with a azoaryl structure for use in studying the cytoskeleton and/or its associated processes, or in the treatment of a disease for which a tubulin polymerisation inhibition activity has a beneficial effect, wherein the compound is administered to the cell, organism or patient in need of such treatment in the trans form of the diazenyl bond, and where this trans form is inactive as regards a tubulin polymerisation inhibition effect, and where after photoisomerisation in vitro, in cellulo or in vivo to an azoaryl compound in its cis isomeric form of the diazenyl bond by the application of light, optionally with modification in vitro, in cellulo or in vivo of one or more substituents, the resultant cis form is active as regards a tubulin polymerisation inhibition effect. |