This chemical is widely used as a zwitterionic detergent in biochemistry and molecular biology. It is particularly effective in solubilizing membrane proteins while maintaining their native structure and function, making it a valuable tool in protein purification and analysis. It is also employed in electrophoresis techniques, such as SDS-PAGE, to enhance the resolution of protein bands. Additionally, it is used in cell lysis protocols to extract proteins and other cellular components without denaturing them. Its mild and non-denaturing properties make it suitable for applications in enzyme assays and other sensitive biochemical studies.