L-Asparagine is used in cell culture media and is a component of MEM non-essential amino acids solution. L-Asparagine has been shown to enhance ornithine decarboxylase activity in cultured human colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells and in cultured IEC-6 intestinal epithelial cells. Spore germination in Bacillus subtilis has been increased in the presence of L-asparagine. An isoxazoline RGD mimic platelet GPIIb/IIIa antagonist has been prepared by chiral synthesis with L-asparagine as a starting material. L-Asparagine has been utilized in the synthesis of 4-azalysine building blocks for application to combinatorial chemistry.