SGC-GAK-1 is a potent and selective inhibitor of the GAK (cyclin G-associated kinase) enzyme. It is primarily used in biochemical and cellular research to study the role of GAK in clathrin-mediated endocytosis and intracellular trafficking. By inhibiting GAK activity, SGC-GAK-1 helps researchers dissect kinase-dependent pathways involved in viral entry, including certain RNA viruses that rely on host cell endocytosis mechanisms. It has been employed in studies exploring the cellular response to viral infection, particularly in identifying host factors required for virus internalization. Additionally, SGC-GAK-1 serves as a tool compound in cancer research due to GAK's involvement in cell cycle regulation and its overexpression in some tumor types. Its selectivity makes it valuable for validating GAK as a potential therapeutic target without significant off-target effects in experimental models.