Used primarily in biochemical research, it serves as a substrate or inhibitor in enzymatic studies, particularly those involving enzymes that interact with alanine derivatives. It is also employed in the synthesis of modified peptides and proteins, aiding in the exploration of enzyme mechanisms and protein functions. Additionally, it finds application in the development of pharmaceutical compounds, where its structural properties are leveraged to design drugs targeting specific metabolic pathways. In microbiology, it is utilized to study bacterial resistance mechanisms and amino acid metabolism.