Used in biochemical research to study carbohydrate-protein interactions, particularly in the inhibition of bacterial adhesion. It serves as a model substrate in enzymatic assays involving glycosidases and glycosyltransferases. Also employed in the synthesis of more complex oligosaccharides and glycoconjugates for immunological studies. Its structural similarity to natural sugar moieties makes it valuable in probing lectin specificity and developing potential therapeutics targeting glycan-mediated processes.