Used as an antibiotic and antifungal agent, particularly in agricultural settings to control fungal infections in crops. Also investigated for its potential in cancer research due to its inhibition of adenylosuccinate synthetase, a key enzyme in de novo purine biosynthesis within tumor cells. Acts as an aspartate analog rather than a glutamine antagonist, interfering with purine nucleotide synthesis, which makes it useful in biochemical studies targeting purine metabolism and amino acid analog effects.