Used primarily in peptide synthesis, it serves as a protected amino acid derivative. The Boc group safeguards the amine functionality, while the Z group protects the lysine side chain, allowing selective reactions at other sites. The p-nitroanilide (pNA) moiety is often utilized in enzymatic assays, as it can be cleaved to release p-nitroaniline, which is easily detectable by spectrophotometry. This makes it valuable in studying protease activity and kinetics. Its applications extend to biochemical research, particularly in understanding protein interactions and enzyme mechanisms.