5-Amino-1MQ vs AICAR
5-Amino-1MQ (Small-molecule NNMT inhibitor) and AICAR (AMPK activator (small molecule)) are documented as co-studied in the PeptiDex library. This page puts the two entries side by side on class, molecular weight, half-life, origin, mechanism and studied research areas — every value taken from the entry it belongs to.
Why these two are co-studied
Cross-referenced for research context — not a usage or combination recommendation.
At a glance
| Attribute | 5-Amino-1MQ | AICAR |
|---|---|---|
| Compound class | Small-molecule NNMT inhibitor | AMPK activator (small molecule) |
| Research category | Metabolic & Mitochondrial | Metabolic & Mitochondrial |
| Length (amino acids) | Not documented | Not documented |
| Molecular weight | ~159 g/mol (free base) | ~258 g/mol |
| Half-life | Not documented | ~90 min (plasma, parent riboside); intracellular ZMP sustains AMPK activation for several hours |
| Origin | 5-Amino-1-methylquinolinium (5-Amino-1MQ) is a synthetic small-molecule quinolinium compound. It is not a peptide. It was identified as a cell-permeable inhibitor of the enzyme nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). | AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide, also called acadesine) is a small-molecule nucleoside analog and an intermediate in de novo purine biosynthesis. It is not a peptide. |
“Not documented” means the PeptiDex entry records no value for that field. Nothing on this page is estimated, and no figure is carried over from one compound to the other.
How 5-Amino-1MQ works
5-Amino-1MQ inhibits NNMT, the enzyme that methylates nicotinamide using S-adenosylmethionine. By inhibiting NNMT, it is proposed to preserve cellular nicotinamide and NAD+ pools and reduce a metabolic sink associated with adipocyte expansion. In preclinical rodent studies, NNMT inhibition has been associated with reduced adipose tissue mass and altered cellular energy metabolism.
How AICAR works
Inside cells AICAR is phosphorylated to ZMP, an AMP analog that activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a central sensor of cellular energy status. AMPK activation shifts metabolism toward catabolic, energy-generating pathways, including increased glucose uptake and fatty-acid oxidation. In preclinical studies AICAR has been used as a pharmacological AMPK activator and described as an exercise-mimetic.
Mechanistic descriptions reflect published research-literature understanding and are quoted from each compound's own entry. Much peptide research is preclinical (in-vitro or animal-model); mechanism in humans may differ and is not established for many compounds.
Where each one appears in the literature
The research contexts each entry documents. Listing a research area is not a claim of efficacy or a therapeutic indication, and the two lists are not scored against each other.
5-Amino-1MQ
AICAR
What sets each apart
5-Amino-1MQ
Distinct from the peptides in this group: it is an orally-oriented small-molecule enzyme inhibitor acting on NNMT, rather than a receptor- or fragment-based peptide.
AICAR
Unlike SLU-PP-332 (ERR-level) or the GH fragments, AICAR acts directly on the AMPK energy-sensing pathway as an AMP analog.
Frequently asked questions
Is 5-Amino-1MQ a peptide?
No. 5-Amino-1MQ is a small-molecule NNMT inhibitor, chemically a methylquinolinium (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium) compound. It is often grouped with metabolic peptides in catalogs because of its fat-metabolism research context, but structurally it is a small molecule, not a peptide, and has no amino-acid sequence.
What is the mechanism of 5-Amino-1MQ?
5-Amino-1MQ competitively inhibits nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) at its catalytic site. NNMT consumes S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and methylates nicotinamide; inhibiting it is reported to raise intracellular SAM and NAD+ availability in adipocytes, shifting cells toward a more metabolically active, fat-oxidizing phenotype in preclinical models.
What is 5-Amino-1MQ studied for?
It is studied primarily in models of obesity and adipose-tissue metabolism, where NNMT is highly expressed in white/visceral fat. Preclinical rodent work reported reductions in body weight and fat mass with NNMT inhibition. Human clinical data remain limited, so findings are preclinical/mechanistic in nature.
Is AICAR a peptide?
No. AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-D-ribofuranoside, also called acadesine or AICA-riboside) is a small-molecule nucleoside, not a peptide. Its molecular formula is C9H14N4O5 (MW ~258.2, CAS 2627-69-2) and it has no amino-acid sequence.
What is the mechanism of AICAR?
Inside cells AICAR is phosphorylated to ZMP, an AMP mimetic that activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK activation shifts metabolism toward energy production, increasing glucose uptake and fatty-acid oxidation. Because AMPK is a key exercise-responsive energy sensor, AICAR is studied as an exercise-mimetic metabolic compound.
What is AICAR studied for?
AICAR is a widely-used research tool for AMPK biology and is studied in models of glucose metabolism, endurance/muscle physiology, mitophagy, and metabolic disease. It has also been examined in cardioprotection (acadesine). Its exercise-mimetic effects on endurance in rodents led to attention from anti-doping authorities.
Answers are the ones published on each compound's own PeptiDex entry. They are educational summaries of research-literature context and are not medical advice.