Disruption of microtubule function in cultured human cells by a cytotoxic ruthenium(ii) polypyridyl complex

Treatment of cultured human cell lines with a cytotoxic IC₅₀dose of ∼2 μM tris(diphenylphenanthroline)ruthenium(ii) chloride (RPC2) retards or arrests microtubule motion as tracked by visualizing fluorescently-tagged microtubule plus end-tracking proteins.