5-Amino-1MQ vs AOD-9604
5-Amino-1MQ (Small-molecule NNMT inhibitor) and AOD-9604 (Modified GH-fragment peptide) 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 | AOD-9604 |
|---|---|---|
| Compound class | Small-molecule NNMT inhibitor | Modified GH-fragment peptide |
| Research category | Metabolic & Mitochondrial | Metabolic & Mitochondrial |
| Length (amino acids) | Not documented | 16 amino acids |
| Molecular weight | ~159 g/mol (free base) | ~1815 g/mol |
| Half-life | Not documented | ~20-40 minutes (reported) |
| 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). | AOD-9604 is a synthetic, stabilized analog of the C-terminal lipolytic region (residues 176-191) of human growth hormone, developed in the 1990s at Monash University. It adds an N-terminal tyrosine to the native fragment and retains the intramolecular disulfide bridge between the two cysteine residues. |
“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 AOD-9604 works
AOD-9604 corresponds to the C-terminal fragment of GH that carries the hormone's lipolytic (fat-metabolizing) activity while lacking the regions responsible for GH's growth-promoting and insulin-antagonizing effects. In preclinical models it has been reported to stimulate lipolysis and inhibit lipogenesis. It does not act as a full growth hormone and reportedly does not raise IGF-1 or affect blood glucose in the manner of intact GH.
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
AOD-9604
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.
AOD-9604
Unlike full-length GH or GH secretagogues, AOD-9604 targets only the lipolytic C-terminal region; unlike the raw HGH Fragment 176-191, it carries an extra N-terminal tyrosine intended to improve stability.
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.
What is AOD-9604 and what class of compound is it?
AOD-9604 is a synthetic 16-amino-acid peptide corresponding to the C-terminal region (residues 176-191) of human growth hormone, modified with an added N-terminal tyrosine and a disulfide bridge between its two cysteine residues. It is studied as a lipolytic (fat-metabolism) peptide that appears to isolate the fat-mobilizing activity of GH. It is a research peptide, not an approved therapeutic in most jurisdictions.
How does AOD-9604 differ from unmodified HGH Fragment 176-191?
AOD-9604 is a stabilized analog of HGH Fragment 176-191: it adds a tyrosine residue at the N-terminus of the native fragment. This modification was engineered in preclinical work to improve metabolic stability and lipolytic activity relative to the raw fragment. Both are studied for fat metabolism, but AOD-9604 is the more characterized, stabilized version.
Does AOD-9604 raise IGF-1 or affect blood glucose in research models?
In preclinical models, AOD-9604 was reported to stimulate lipolysis and inhibit lipogenesis without the growth-promoting or diabetogenic effects associated with full-length growth hormone. Studies indicate it does not meaningfully elevate IGF-1 or disturb glucose handling in the models examined. These findings are from research settings and are not clinical guarantees.
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.