A mycotoxin; inhibits ceramide synthase (IC50 = 0.1 µM for the rat liver enzyme); induces DNA fragmentation and apoptosis in CV-1 cells at 5 and 25 µM, respectively; cytotoxic to primary rat hepatocytes; induces hepatocyte nodule formation, a marker of cancer initiation, in rats at 500 mg/kg for 21 days; has been detected in corn and corn-based foods and livestock feeds