2-Mercaptoethanol is widely used in biochemistry and molecular biology as a reducing agent to break disulfide bonds within proteins, aiding in their denaturation for analysis. It is also employed in cell culture to maintain a reducing environment, preventing oxidative stress and ensuring cell viability. Additionally, it serves as a stabilizer in enzyme preparations and is utilized in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and organic compounds. Its ability to act as a thiol-protecting group makes it valuable in peptide synthesis and protein folding studies.