Acts as a positive regulator of autophagy, acting via mTOR-independent mechanism. SMER28 increases autophagosome synthesis and enhances the clearance of model autophagy substrates such as A53T a-synuclein and mutant huntingtin fragments. It is also protective in Drosophila model of Huntington's Disease (HD). Maybe a useful lead compound for the development of new therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. Induces the release of articular cartilage vesicles from healthy articular chondrocytes in a dose- and time-dependent manner.  Promotes reprogramming of fibroblasts to neural stem-like cells. Cell permeable.