1. Any of a class of fungal metabolites that inhibit actin polymerization and disrupt the cytoskeleton in cells, used in research to study cell structure and movement.
Usage: technical; biology; biochemistry

Examples

• Cytochalasin D is commonly used in laboratory experiments to prevent cell division.
• Researchers applied cytochalasin to observe how cells respond when their actin filaments are disrupted.
• The drug cytochalasin B has been instrumental in understanding the role of the cytoskeleton in cell migration.
• Cytochalasin treatment causes cells to lose their normal shape and motility.
• Scientists use cytochalasin as a tool to study the dynamics of cell structure in real time.