Prenyl-IN-1 is primarily utilized in biochemical research as a selective inhibitor of protein prenylation, a critical post-translational modification process. It specifically targets and inhibits farnesyltransferase and geranylgeranyltransferase I, enzymes responsible for attaching prenyl groups to proteins. This inhibition is valuable for studying the role of prenylated proteins in cellular signaling pathways, particularly in cancer research, where aberrant prenylation is often linked to tumor growth and metastasis. Researchers use Prenyl-IN-1 to explore potential therapeutic strategies by disrupting these pathways in preclinical models. Its application extends to understanding the molecular mechanisms of diseases associated with protein prenylation, such as neurodegenerative disorders and cardiovascular conditions.