Used primarily in molecular biology as a denaturing agent for proteins and nucleic acids, aiding in the study of their structure and function. It is also employed in the purification of recombinant proteins, helping to solubilize inclusion bodies. Additionally, it serves as a chaotropic agent in RNA isolation protocols, facilitating the disruption of cellular components and the release of RNA. Its strong denaturing properties make it valuable in research involving protein folding and misfolding studies.