alpha-Ketoglutarate is a key molecule in the TCA cycle. It can be produced from glutamate by oxidative deamination via glutamate dehydrogenase and as a product of pyridoxal phosphate-dependent transamination reactions (mediated by branched-chain amino acid transaminases) in which glutamate is a common amino donor.

Azoramide, a small-molecule modulator, has the antidiabetic activity of unfolded protein response.

Proline and its derivatives are often used as asymmetric catalysts in organic reactions, as the CBS reduction and proline catalysed aldol condensation.