Spautin-1 is primarily used in biomedical research for its ability to promote autophagy inhibition by targeting ubiquitin-specific peptidases USP10 and USP13. This action leads to the degradation of class III PI3K complexes, which are essential for autophagosome formation. Due to this mechanism, Spautin-1 is widely applied in cancer research, where modulating autophagy can sensitize tumor cells to chemotherapy or trigger cell death. It has also been investigated in neurodegenerative disease studies, as autophagy plays a key role in clearing misfolded proteins. Additionally, Spautin-1 serves as a tool compound in cellular biology to dissect autophagy-related signaling pathways and understand the role of deubiquitinating enzymes in cellular homeostasis.