Phenylethyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-b-D-glucopyranoside can be used to inhibit the growth of bacteria, yeast, and fungi. It is a yellow powder that has been shown to cause regression in tumor xenografts in mice. Phenylethyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-b-D-glucopyranoside inhibits cellular proliferation by blocking the synthesis of proteins and nucleic acids. This compound also has been shown to have an effect on the environment because it inhibits the growth of phytoplankton. Phenylethyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-b-D-glucopyranoside was found to disrupt bacterial gene expression profiles, which may be due to its ability to inhibit protein synthesis at the ribosome level.