It is a potent protein phosphatase 1A and 2A inhibitor.

It is a very potent inhibitor of protein phosphatases-1 (PP1) and -2A (PP2A) that also stimulates the phosphorylation of many proteins.
1 nM completely inhibits PP2A with IC₅₀ ~0.1 nM.
IC₅₀  = 10^-15 nM for PP1.
IC₅₀ = 5 μM for PP2B.
10 μM have no effect on PP2C.

It causes a durable contraction of isolated vascular smooth muscles from human umbilical arteries (0.1-100 μM) and rabbit aorta (10 μM), indicating that myosin P-light chain phosphorylation is increased.

It causes Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP), probably by stimulating the phosphorylation of proteins that control sodium secretion by intestinal cells. It is a powerful tumour promoter. In two-stage carcinogenesis experiments on mouse skin, is of comparable potency to agents like phorbol esters, which exert their effects by activating protein kinase C.
It reproduces the effects of Insulin on glucose transport in adipocytes.
It diffuses through the cell membrane.

Stable when kept dry, in a dark place;
Store at -20 °C;
In solution, keep at -20°C; stable in methanol; stable in media/saline solutions for 1 experiment.

For research use only — not intended for food, diagnostic or therapeutic use
Supposed tumour promoter: avoid skin contact, do not inhale.