Antibiotic. Apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated cell death inducer. Potent, selective and competitive cell permeable rasfarnesyltransferase inhibitor (IC50 = 30 nM). Does not affect geranylgeranyltransferase (IC50 = 180 µM). Inhibition is competitive with respect to farnesyl pyrophosphate and non-competitive with respect to Ras. Neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitor. Blocks insulin-induced MAP kinase activation in rat cardiac myocytes (19 µM). Targets protein phosphatase 1alpha (PP1alpha) and reduces hydrogen peroxide. Corrects aberrant splicing of the muscle chloride channel Clcn1 in myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). Shows potential anti-inflammatory activity.