Used as a biochemical tool in research to inhibit phenylalanine hydroxylase, an enzyme involved in amino acid metabolism. It helps study metabolic pathways related to phenylalanine and tyrosine, particularly in models of phenylketonuria (PKU). Also employed in experiments to induce amino acid imbalance in cell cultures and animal models, aiding in the investigation of protein synthesis and neurotransmitter production. Its ability to mimic phenylalanine makes it useful in probing enzyme specificity and metabolic regulation.