Guanidine hydrochloride is widely used in molecular biology as a protein denaturant. It disrupts hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, effectively unfolding proteins, which is crucial for studying protein structure and function. It is also employed in the purification of nucleic acids, where it helps in the isolation of RNA and DNA by breaking down cellular structures and inactivating nucleases. Additionally, it serves as a chaotropic agent in various biochemical assays, enhancing the solubility of hydrophobic molecules. In the pharmaceutical industry, it is utilized in the synthesis of certain drugs and as a stabilizer in formulations. Its ability to denature proteins also makes it valuable in research focused on protein folding and misfolding diseases.