Actinomycetes can produce a rich diversity of small molecule compounds, but most of the actinomycetes have not been isolated and cultured because they are in a "viable but unculturable" state. One of the causes of "viable but unculturable" may be due to some environmental stresses, such as organic matter, heavy metal, antibiotics. These environmental factors make the cell form a dormant state, until they meet the suitable conditions for recovery growth. Resuscitation-promoting factor (Rpf) is a type of protein secreted by some actinomycetes. It was first discovered in Micrococcus luteus. Since then, more attention has been paid to the function and distribution of Rpf protein. Rpf protein can promote the recovery of some dormant Gram-positive bacteria and provide the possibility for "viable but unculturable" actinomycetes to be cultured in the laboratory. At the same time, the development of Rpf protein inhibitors for some pathogenic actinomycetes also provides a new way for the treatment of related diseases. Based on this premise, the structural composition, characteristics of the function, mechanism of action, and application prospect of Rpf protein were briefly reviewed.