1,2-Dioctanoyl-sn-glycerol is a cell-permeable activator of PKC (protein kinase C). Exhibits lower affinity for PKCa than for other isozymes. Shown to mimic the effects of tumor-promoting phorbol diesters on mitogenesis and epidermal growth factor binding and action in intact cells. To study its stimulatory effect on protein kinase C (PKC) in human cell lines As a lipid cofactor in PKC activity assay In vesicular-fusion protein Sec-18 binding studies