ScienceSeptember 6, 2026

cytotoxin

SY-tuh-tok-sin

Definition

A substance that is toxic or harmful to cells, often used in medicine to describe agents that kill or damage cells.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek 'kytos' (hollow vessel or cell) and 'toxikon' (poison), the term refers to any agent that has a toxic effect on living cells.

In the news

The article distinguishes DATS from a simple cytotoxin, suggesting it acts as a precise regulatory signal blocker rather than just a general cell-killing agent.

Garlic compound blocks key signal, triggering gastric cancer cell death

Read the full article ↗

Bioengineer.org

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