Sodium iodoacetate is primarily used in biochemical research as an enzyme inhibitor. It effectively inhibits glycolysis by targeting glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a key enzyme in the glycolytic pathway. This property makes it a valuable tool for studying cellular metabolism and energy production processes. Additionally, it is employed in cancer research to investigate the role of glycolysis in tumor cell survival and proliferation. In molecular biology, sodium iodoacetate is used to alkylate cysteine residues in proteins, aiding in the study of protein structure and function. Its applications also extend to the field of toxicology, where it is used to model metabolic dysfunction and study the effects of impaired energy metabolism in cells. It may also be involved in studies of apoptosis and oxidative stress mechanisms. However, it should be handled with caution due to its cellular toxicity and potential side effects.