Its anti-metastasis and anti-inflammatory activities are apparently independent of its proteolytic activity. Although poorly understood, the diverse pleiotrophic effects of SBM seem to depend on its ability to traverse the membrane barrier, a very unusual property of this protein.
SBM's anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects seem to operate independently of its protein-degrading ability. The varied consequences of SBM are thought to be due to its exceptional capacity to traverse cellular membranes.