DL-4-Fluoroglutamic acid is primarily used in biochemical research as a tool to study enzyme mechanisms and metabolic pathways. It serves as an analog of glutamic acid, allowing scientists to investigate the role of this amino acid in various biological processes. Specifically, it helps in understanding the function of enzymes like glutaminase and glutamate dehydrogenase by acting as a substrate or inhibitor. Additionally, it is utilized in studies related to cancer metabolism, as altered glutamine metabolism is a hallmark of many cancer cells. Its fluorinated structure also makes it useful in NMR spectroscopy for probing protein structures and interactions.