3-AP-Me is a dimethyl derivative of the nucleotide reductase inhibitor 3-AP (SML0568). 3-AP-Me can activate the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway by promoting the phosphorylation of eIF2α and increasing the gene expression of transcription factors ATF4 and ATF6 , leading to cell apoptosis. Additionally, 3-AP-Me can activate the stress kinases c-Jun N-terminal kinase ( JNK ) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases. 3-AP-Me also leads to the upregulation of the spliced mRNA variant XBP1, can be used in cancer research.