Brefeldin A is a macrolide that inhibits Golgi trafficking and is widely used to induce ER stress and study autophagy.
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Brefeldin A is a fungal macrolide metabolite produced by several species including Fusarium and Curvularia. It inhibits ADP-ribosylation factor guanine nucleotide exchange factors (ARF-GEFs), resulting in collapse of the Golgi apparatus into the endoplasmic reticulum and disruption of vesicular trafficking. Brefeldin A is extensively used as a research tool to induce ER stress, modulate autophagy, and study membrane trafficking. It also exhibits anticancer activity through induction of apoptosis and autophagic cell death and has been investigated in colorectal cancer and chronic myeloid leukemia models.