Used primarily in molecular biology and biochemistry research, this compound serves as a modified nucleoside in the study of RNA structure and function. It is incorporated into RNA molecules to investigate the effects of methylation and iodination on RNA stability, folding, and interactions with proteins. Additionally, it is employed in the development of therapeutic RNA-based drugs, particularly in antisense and siRNA technologies, where modifications enhance resistance to nucleases and improve binding affinity. Its unique properties also make it valuable in X-ray crystallography for determining RNA structures due to the heavy iodine atom, which aids in phasing.