Used primarily in biochemical and genetic research, this modified nucleobase serves as a key intermediate in studies involving DNA alkylation and repair mechanisms. It helps scientists understand mutagenesis caused by alkylating agents, which are common environmental carcinogens. Due to its structural similarity to guanine, it is incorporated into oligonucleotides to probe enzyme specificity, particularly in DNA repair enzymes like alkyladenine DNA glycosylase (AAG), which recognizes and removes N1-methylguanine via base excision repair. It also plays a role in assessing the stability and pairing behavior of alkylated DNA, contributing to the development of cancer therapies targeting DNA repair pathways.