Used in biochemical research as a structural analog of glutamate, this compound serves as a potential inhibitor in enzyme assays involving amino acid metabolism. It has been explored for its role in studying neurotransmitter pathways due to its structural similarity to excitatory amino acids. Its hydroxycarbamoyl group allows interactions with active sites of specific transferases and hydrolases, making it useful in the design of enzyme-targeted probes. Additionally, it may act as a precursor or intermediate in the synthesis of bioactive molecules aimed at neurological targets.