Vps34-IN-1 is a selective inhibitor of Vps34 (vacuolar protein sorting 34), a class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). It is primarily used in research to study autophagy, a cellular degradation and recycling process. By inhibiting Vps34, this compound blocks the early stages of autophagosome formation, allowing scientists to investigate the role of autophagy in various cellular functions and disease models. It has been applied in cancer research to explore how suppressing autophagy affects tumor cell survival, particularly under stress conditions like nutrient deprivation or chemotherapy. Additionally, Vps34-IN-1 is used to dissect signaling pathways involving vesicular trafficking and endosomal sorting, which are critical in immune responses and neurodegenerative diseases. Due to its selectivity over class I PI3Ks, Vps34-IN-1 helps distinguish Vps34-specific effects from broader PI3K pathway activities, making it a valuable tool in mechanistic studies of intracellular signaling and membrane dynamics.