Used as a potent inhibitor of the enzyme glutamine synthetase, this compound plays a key role in biochemical research for studying nitrogen metabolism in plants and microorganisms. It is also employed in the development of herbicides due to its ability to disrupt amino acid synthesis in weeds. Its structural similarity to amino acids allows it to interfere with enzyme active sites, making it valuable in designing pharmaceuticals and enzyme inhibitors. Additionally, it finds use in industrial water treatment as a scale and corrosion inhibitor, particularly in cooling systems, where it chelates metal ions and prevents deposit formation.