Bafilomycin C1 is primarily used in research settings as a potent and specific inhibitor of vacuolar-type ATPase (V-ATPase). This property makes it valuable for studying cellular processes that involve pH regulation, such as autophagy, lysosomal function, and intracellular trafficking. In cancer research, it is employed to investigate the role of V-ATPase in tumor cell survival and drug resistance, as inhibiting this enzyme can disrupt the acidic microenvironment essential for cancer progression. Additionally, Bafilomycin C1 is utilized in microbiology to study the survival mechanisms of pathogens that rely on pH modulation for infection. Its ability to block V-ATPase activity also aids in understanding neurodegenerative diseases linked to lysosomal dysfunction.