Used in biochemical research as a protease inhibitor, particularly targeting cysteine proteases involved in cellular regulation and disease pathways. Its complex structure allows selective binding to active sites of specific enzymes, making it valuable in studying proteolytic mechanisms. Commonly applied in assays to modulate enzyme activity, it aids in understanding protein degradation in diseases like cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, and parasitic infections. Also serves as a scaffold in developing therapeutic inhibitors due to its high affinity and specificity for target proteins.