Used in biochemical research as a non-natural amino acid to study protein synthesis and enzyme mechanisms. It serves as a phenylalanine analog, helping to investigate metabolic pathways and protein functions. Also employed in cancer research to inhibit tumor growth by disrupting amino acid metabolism. Applied in positron emission tomography (PET) imaging as a radiolabeled tracer to detect and monitor tumors. Its incorporation into peptides and proteins aids in understanding structural and functional impacts of amino acid substitutions.