A potent, cell permeable inhibitor of histone deacetylase (IC₅₀ = 700 pM for parasitic histone deacetylase). Inhibits HeLa cell proliferation (IC₅₀ = 50 – 100 nM) and induces the transcriptional activation of p21 (WAF1) in a reversible manner. Also prevents H-ras-induced invasive phenotype of MCF-10A cells possibly by down regulating MMP-2 in a reversible manner.