This chemical is commonly used in biochemical research as a substrate for studying caspase-2 activity. Caspase-2 is an enzyme involved in apoptosis, or programmed cell death, and this compound helps researchers measure its activity in vitro. When caspase-2 cleaves the peptide bond in this substrate, it releases p-nitroaniline (pNA), which can be detected spectrophotometrically at 405 nm. This allows for quantitative analysis of caspase-2 activity, aiding in the understanding of apoptotic pathways and the development of therapeutic strategies targeting cell death mechanisms. It is particularly useful in assays designed to screen for caspase-2 inhibitors or activators.