Pifithrin-μ is a potent inhibitor of  p53 binding and p53-mediated apoptosis with Kd value of 0.82 mM in vitro[1].

The p53 is encoded in humans by the TP53 gene. The molecular mass of p53 is 53 KD. The p53 has the function of regulating the cell cycle, thus, it functions as preventing cancer, a tumor suppressor. The p53 plays an important role in apoptosis, inhibition of angiogenesis and genomic stability by activating DNA repair proteins, arresting cell growth though holding the cell cycle and initiating apoptosis. p53 becomes activated in response to DNA damage, osmotic shock, oxidative stress or other myriad stressors. Activated p53 activates the expression of several genes by binding DNA including p21. p21 binds to the G1-S/CDK complexes which is an important molecules for the G1/S transition, then causes cell cycle arrest. The increasing amount of p53 may be a solution for prevention of tumors spreading or treatment of them[1].

Pifithrin-μis a cell-permeable inhibitor of p53-binding and p53-mediated apoptosis. Pifithrin-μdirectly inhibits that p53 binds to mitochondria. Pifithrin-μ also inhibits p53 binds to Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins. PFT-μbinds both Bcl-xL and p53 with Kd = 0.80 mM and 0.82 mM respectively.[1] Pifithrin-μ reduces apoptosis which triggered by nutlin-3 in ML-1 cells at 25μM [2]. Pifithrin-μ also selectively inhibits heat shock protein 70 (HSP 70) activity.

Pre-treatment with Pifithrin-μcan rescue primary thymocytes from γ-irradiation  or DNA damaging agents in mice.[2]