Toxins can interfere with the mitotic spindle in several ways, leading to errors in cell division. Some toxins, such as colchicine and vinblastine, disrupt microtubule polymerization, preventing the spindle from forming correctly. Others, like taxol, stabilize microtubules, hindering their dynamic behavior that is necessary for proper spindle function. These disruptions can result in mitotic checkpoint failure, leading to cell death or the survival of genetically unstable cells.
