Puromycin dihydrochloride is widely used in molecular biology and biochemical research as a protein synthesis inhibitor. It is commonly employed in cell culture studies to select cells that have been successfully transfected with a puromycin resistance gene. This allows researchers to isolate and maintain only the genetically modified cells. Additionally, it is utilized in studies investigating the mechanisms of translation and ribosome function, as it prematurely terminates protein synthesis by incorporating into the growing peptide chain. Its ability to inhibit protein synthesis makes it a valuable tool for studying cellular processes and gene expression.