BTB‐1: A Small Molecule Inhibitor of the Mitotic Motor Protein Kif18A

Turning the motor off: A malachite green based assay leads to the identification of BTB-1 (see picture), the first small-molecule inhibitor of the mitotic motor protein Kif18A. BTB-1 reversibly inhibits the ATPase activity of the recombinant motor domain of Kif18A in vitro (see picture; red microtubules, blue/black structure =Kif18A) and will be a valuable tool to dissect the mechanochemical properties of Kif18A.