Used in peptide synthesis to study protein structure and function due to its ability to induce specific conformational changes. It is also employed in research to mimic amino acids in peptides, helping to understand enzyme specificity and stability. Additionally, it serves as a building block in the development of pharmaceuticals, particularly in creating compounds with enhanced metabolic stability. In biochemistry, it is utilized as a tool to investigate metabolic pathways and amino acid transport mechanisms. Its unique structure makes it valuable in studying the effects of steric hindrance in molecular interactions.