Metabolic & Mitochondrial — 8 Compounds Compared

What this category covers

This category spans two families that are frequently grouped together but are chemically unrelated.

Growth-hormone fragments — AOD-9604 and HGH Fragment 176-191 — are C-terminal fragments of human growth hormone studied specifically for lipolytic activity separated from the growth-promoting and glucose-affecting properties of the full hormone. That separation is the entire research premise of both compounds.

Mitochondrial and metabolic small molecules — MOTS-c, AICAR, 5-Amino-1MQ and SLU-PP-332 — act on cellular energy-regulation pathways. MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide encoded in mitochondrial DNA rather than nuclear DNA, which makes it genuinely unusual. AICAR is an AMPK activator, 5-Amino-1MQ an NNMT inhibitor, and SLU-PP-332 an ERR agonist — three distinct entry points into the same broad question of how cells regulate energy expenditure, which is why they are collectively described in the literature as exercise mimetics.

Note that several compounds in this group are not peptides. AICAR is a nucleoside, 5-Amino-1MQ and SLU-PP-332 are small molecules, and one entry is a vitamin cofactor. They appear here because they are studied alongside peptides in the same metabolic-research context, not because they share a chemical class — and the compound-class column below states that plainly for each one.

The GLP-1 family is also metabolic research, but it is catalogued separately because those compounds are incretin-receptor agonists acting on appetite and glucose regulation — a different mechanism from the direct lipolytic and mitochondrial pathways covered here. Researchers comparing across the two categories should be careful not to treat "metabolic" as a single mechanism.

Every entry in this category, side by side

All 8 compounds PeptiDex documents under Metabolic & Mitochondrial, on the specifications that actually separate one entry from another. Values are reproduced from each entry's own record; follow any name for the full research overview.

Every Metabolic & Mitochondrial entry in the PeptiDex library, compared on compound class, residue count, molecular weight and reported half-life.
Entry	Compound class	Length (aa)	Molecular weight	Reported half-life
AOD-9604	Modified GH-fragment peptide	16	~1815 g/mol	~20-40 minutes (reported)
5-Amino-1MQ	Small-molecule NNMT inhibitor	Not listed	~159 g/mol (free base)	Not listed
Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin)	Essential vitamin (cofactor)	Not listed	~1355 g/mol (cyanocobalamin)	Not listed
MOTS-c	Mitochondrial-derived peptide	16	~2174 g/mol	Not listed
SLU-PP-332	Small-molecule ERR agonist (exercise mimetic)	Not listed	~290.3 g/mol (C18H14N2O2, CAS 303760-60-3)	Not listed
Adipotide (FTPP)	Pro-apoptotic peptidomimetic (prohibitin-targeting)	Not listed	~2611 g/mol (approx. C152H252N44O42)	Not listed
AICAR	AMPK activator (small molecule)	Not listed	~258 g/mol	~90 min (plasma, parent riboside); intracellular ZMP sustains AMPK activation for several hours
HGH Fragment 176-191	Modified GH-fragment peptide	15	~1817 g/mol	~15-20 minutes (reported)

Of the 8 compounds above, 8 carry a published molecular weight, 3 have a reported half-life, 3 have a documented residue count and 4 have a published amino-acid sequence. No half-life is recorded for 5-Amino-1MQ, Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin), MOTS-c, SLU-PP-332 and 1 others.

A cell reading "Not listed" is a gap in the published record, not an omission on this page. PeptiDex records a specification only where a source documents it. Where a value has never been established in the published literature the cell says so, rather than carrying an estimate — a plausible-looking number would make the table read as complete while making it wrong.

Mechanisms represented in this category

The 8 compounds here resolve into 7 compound classes, 1 of which is shared by more than one entry. Entries inside a group carry the same stated class; entries in different groups are not interchangeable, however similar their research context looks.

Modified GH-fragment peptide 2 entries

AOD-9604 — 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.
HGH Fragment 176-191 — The fragment reproduces the C-terminal, lipolytic-associated region of GH while lacking the domains responsible for GH's growth-promoting and insulin-antagonizing actions.

AMPK activator

AICAR — Inside cells AICAR is phosphorylated to ZMP, an AMP analog that activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a central sensor of cellular energy status.

Essential vitamin

Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin) — B12 is a required cofactor for two key enzymes: methionine synthase (which regenerates methionine from homocysteine and requires methylcobalamin, supporting cellular methylation) and methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (which requires adenosylcobalamin).

Mitochondrial-derived peptide

MOTS-c — MOTS-c is reported to regulate metabolic homeostasis, in part via activation of the AMPK pathway and modulation of the folate-methionine cycle and de novo purine biosynthesis.

Pro-apoptotic peptidomimetic

Adipotide (FTPP) — The CKGGRAKDC domain binds a prohibitin/ANXA2 receptor complex found on the endothelium (blood vessels) supplying white adipose tissue.

Small-molecule ERR agonist

SLU-PP-332 — SLU-PP-332 is reported to act as a pan-agonist of the estrogen-related receptors (ERRalpha, ERRbeta, ERRgamma), nuclear receptors that regulate mitochondrial biogenesis, oxidative metabolism, and energy expenditure.

Small-molecule NNMT inhibitor

5-Amino-1MQ — 5-Amino-1MQ inhibits NNMT, the enzyme that methylates nicotinamide using S-adenosylmethionine.

Each line is the opening sentence of that entry's own mechanism record, reproduced verbatim. The full mechanism, the research areas behind it and the evidence level sit on the entry's page.

How the compounds in this category differ

Sharing a category does not make two compounds substitutes. Each note below is the differentiator recorded on that entry — the property that separates it from the others in the table.

AOD-9604

A modified fragment of human growth hormone studied in lipolysis research.

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.

5-Amino-1MQ

A small-molecule inhibitor of NNMT studied in fat-metabolism and mitochondrial research.

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.

Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin)

A water-soluble vitamin commonly referenced as an injectable in metabolic and energy research.

Unlike the peptides and research small molecules here, B12 is a recognized essential nutrient with established physiological cofactor roles.

MOTS-c

A mitochondrial-derived peptide studied in metabolic regulation and exercise research.

Unlike the GH-derived fragments here, MOTS-c is endogenously encoded in the mitochondrial genome and acts as a broad metabolic regulator rather than a targeted lipolytic fragment.

SLU-PP-332

An ERR (estrogen-related receptor) agonist and exercise-mimetic compound referenced in metabolic research.

Unlike the peptides here, SLU-PP-332 is a nuclear-receptor-targeting small molecule; unlike AICAR (which activates AMPK), it works upstream at the ERR transcription-factor level.

Adipotide (FTPP)

A pro-apoptotic peptidomimetic referenced in adipose-tissue and metabolic research literature.

Unlike the lipolytic GH fragments, adipotide does not stimulate fat metabolism; it destroys the blood vessels feeding fat tissue via a targeted pro-apoptotic mechanism.

AICAR

An AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator studied in exercise-mimetic and energy-metabolism research.

Unlike SLU-PP-332 (ERR-level) or the GH fragments, AICAR acts directly on the AMPK energy-sensing pathway as an AMP analog.

HGH Fragment 176-191

A 16-amino-acid C-terminal fragment of human growth hormone studied in lipolysis-related research.

This is the native GH C-terminal fragment; AOD-9604 is its modified, tyrosine-extended analog. Both isolate lipolytic activity away from full GH signaling.

Commonly co-studied pairs

Pairings documented on the entries themselves, with the reason each is co-referenced. Cross-referencing research context is not a combination recommendation, and PeptiDex gives no protocol, ratio or dosing guidance.

Within Metabolic & Mitochondrial

AOD-9604 + HGH Fragment 176-191 — AOD-9604 is a stabilized analog of this fragment, so the two are frequently compared and co-studied for lipolytic activity.
AOD-9604 + MOTS-c — Both are studied in metabolic/fat-oxidation research and are sometimes examined together in energy-metabolism contexts.
5-Amino-1MQ + MOTS-c — Both intersect NAD+/metabolic-homeostasis biology in adipose and muscle and are discussed together in energy-metabolism research.
5-Amino-1MQ + AOD-9604 — Both are studied in fat-metabolism contexts and sometimes examined together in body-composition research.
MOTS-c + AICAR — Both engage AMPK-linked metabolic signaling and are co-studied as exercise-mimetic / metabolic compounds.
SLU-PP-332 + AICAR — Both are exercise-mimetic metabolic compounds (ERR/PGC-1alpha vs AMPK) and are compared and co-studied in endurance-metabolism research.
SLU-PP-332 + MOTS-c — Both are studied as exercise-mimetic regulators of fatty-acid oxidation and mitochondrial metabolism.
SLU-PP-332 + 5-Amino-1MQ — Both are small-molecule metabolic modulators studied in fat-oxidation and energy-expenditure contexts.

Reaching into other categories

AOD-9604 + CJC-1295 — GH-axis secretagogues are commonly studied alongside GH-fragment lipolytic peptides in body-composition research.
5-Amino-1MQ + NAD+ — NNMT inhibition and direct NAD+ supplementation both target the NAD+/SAM axis, so they are commonly co-studied.
Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin) + MIC Blend (Lipo-C + B12) — B12 is commonly formulated with methionine/inositol/choline lipotropic blends in metabolic research preparations.
Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin) + Lipo-C Research Solution — B12 is a frequent adjunct cofactor in lipotropic (Lipo-C) research formulations.

7 further pairings are documented on the individual entries. Each note is reproduced from the entry that records the pairing.

What this category is studied for

Research areas drawn from the 8 compounds in this category, deduplicated and ordered by how many entries list them. A further 17 research areas are listed across the individual entries.

Listing a research area records where a compound has been studied. It is not a claim of efficacy, an indication, or a suggestion of human use.

Category questions

How many compounds does PeptiDex list under Metabolic & Mitochondrial?

8: AOD-9604, 5-Amino-1MQ, Vitamin B12 (Methylcobalamin), MOTS-c, SLU-PP-332, Adipotide (FTPP), AICAR and HGH Fragment 176-191. Each has its own research overview covering compound class, mechanism, studied research areas, specifications and entry-specific questions.

Why do some entries show "Not listed" instead of a molecular weight or half-life?

Because PeptiDex records a specification only where a source documents it. In this category 8 of 8 entries have a published molecular weight and 3 have a reported half-life. Where a cell reads Not listed, the value has not been established in the published literature. An estimate there would look like data and function as a guess, so the gap is shown instead.

What compound classes are represented in this category?

7 distinct classes across the 8 compounds: Modified GH-fragment peptide, Small-molecule NNMT inhibitor, Essential vitamin, Mitochondrial-derived peptide, Small-molecule ERR agonist, Pro-apoptotic peptidomimetic and AMPK activator. Entries sharing a class are grouped together in the mechanisms section; the comparison table lists each entry's full class verbatim, qualifiers included.

Which entries in this category are studied together?

AOD-9604 and HGH Fragment 176-191 are cross-referenced on each other's entries: AOD-9604 is a stabilized analog of this fragment, so the two are frequently compared and co-studied for lipolytic activity. The co-studied pairs section lists the rest. Co-reference describes how the literature groups compounds; it is not a combination recommendation and no ratios or protocols are given.

Are the compounds in this category approved for human use?

PeptiDex documents all 8 entries strictly for research and educational purposes and provides no dosing, protocol or human-use guidance. Regulatory status differs from entry to entry and is stated in the regulatory note on each entry's own page. Nothing here is medical advice or a therapeutic claim.

Where should I start in this category?

The comparison table gives the fastest orientation, then the differentiator notes explain why two entries with similar research contexts are not interchangeable. From there, follow any name in the table for its full record — every entry carries the same structure. The glossary defines the vocabulary the entries are written in.

Answers summarise what the catalog records for this category. They are educational context, not medical advice. See the Research Library, the Glossary and each entry's own page for detail.