Used in biochemical research for studying carbohydrate metabolism, particularly in glycosylation pathways and nucleotide sugar synthesis. Serves as a substrate or intermediate in enzymatic reactions involving phosphomannomutase and mannose-1-phosphate guanylyltransferase. Employed in the preparation of oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates for use in vaccine development and cell signaling studies. Also utilized in metabolic engineering and in vitro synthesis of GDP-mannose for glycoprotein production.