5-Amino-1MQ (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium) is a small-molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), an enzyme involved in cellular methylation and nicotinamide metabolism. Unlike most compounds in a peptide catalog, it is not a peptide at all: it is a compact quinolinium-based molecule. Research on 5-Amino-1MQ is preclinical, carried out in cell cultures and rodent models, and PRIME supplies it strictly for laboratory research use.
What is 5-Amino-1MQ?
5-Amino-1MQ belongs to a series of methylquinolinium compounds that were designed and screened as NNMT inhibitors. Its core is a quinoline ring system carrying a methyl group on the ring nitrogen, which gives the molecule a permanent positive charge, and an amino group at the 5-position. This small, charged structure resembles the natural product of the NNMT reaction, which helps explain how it interacts with the enzyme's active site.
Because it is a small molecule rather than a peptide, 5-Amino-1MQ is not subject to the enzymatic breakdown by proteases that limits many peptides. Its size also means it has been described in research as able to cross cell membranes, which made it useful as a tool compound for studying NNMT inside cells.
5-Amino-1MQ is a research compound. It is not an approved medicine in the United States, and it has not completed the clinical development that would be needed for any approved use.
How 5-Amino-1MQ works: mechanism studied in research
To understand 5-Amino-1MQ, it helps to understand its target. NNMT is an enzyme that transfers a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), the cell's main methyl donor, onto nicotinamide. The products are 1-methylnicotinamide (MNAM) and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). NNMT is expressed most heavily in the liver and in adipose tissue.
This reaction sits at the crossroads of two important pathways:
- NAD+ salvage: nicotinamide is the starting material that cells recycle into NAD+. When NNMT methylates nicotinamide, that molecule is diverted away from the salvage pathway.
- Methylation balance: every NNMT reaction consumes SAM, which is also used for methylating DNA, histones and many other targets. High NNMT activity has been proposed in research to act as a sink for methyl groups.
Elevated NNMT expression has been observed in the adipose tissue of obese mouse models, which led researchers to ask whether blocking the enzyme would change adipocyte metabolism. 5-Amino-1MQ inhibits NNMT, and in cell studies this has been associated with reduced MNAM production, and with changes in intracellular NAD+ and SAM levels. The working hypothesis in the literature is that these shifts influence energy expenditure and lipid handling within fat cells.
Areas of research
- Adipose tissue biology: 5-Amino-1MQ has been studied in cultured adipocytes, where researchers examined lipogenesis and cellular NAD+ levels.
- Diet-induced obesity models: it has been investigated in mice fed high-fat diets, with reported changes in body weight, white adipose tissue mass and adipocyte size.
- Metabolic markers: the same animal studies examined parameters such as plasma cholesterol and measures of glucose handling.
- Skeletal muscle and aging: NNMT inhibition has been explored in rodent research on muscle stem cell function in older animals.
- NNMT in disease models: NNMT itself has been studied in cancer biology and liver research, making selective inhibitors useful as research tools.
All of this work is preclinical. Findings in cells and rodents do not establish safety or effects in people.
Researchers designing new studies often pair 5-Amino-1MQ with measurements of the NNMT reaction itself, such as MNAM levels, alongside NAD+ and SAM, so that downstream observations can be tied back to confirmed target engagement rather than inferred from outcomes alone.
5-Amino-1MQ key facts
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Compound class | Small molecule; methylquinolinium-based enzyme inhibitor (not a peptide) |
| Chemical name | 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium |
| Primary target | Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) |
| Pathways involved | NAD+ salvage and SAM-dependent methylation |
| Form supplied | Solid research material; see the product page for format and quantity |
| Research status | Preclinical research compound; not an approved medicine in the US |
| Storage | Cool, dry and protected from light; refrigerate solutions |
Handling and storage in the lab
Keep 5-Amino-1MQ in its sealed container in a cool, dry place away from light and moisture, and refrigerate it for longer-term storage. If the container has been cold, let it reach room temperature before opening so that condensation does not form on the material.
Where the material is prepared as a solution for lab work, it can be reconstituted with bacteriostatic water or with a solvent appropriate to the assay, as confirmed by your protocol. Add the diluent gently and mix until fully dissolved, label the container with concentration and date, keep the solution refrigerated and protected from light, and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Fresh solutions are preferable for enzyme inhibition assays where small changes in concentration matter.
Use gloves and eye protection, work in a suitable area, and follow your institution's procedures for chemical handling and disposal.
Quality and lab results
When a study depends on selective enzyme inhibition, the identity and purity of the inhibitor matter as much as the design of the experiment. Every batch of 5-Amino-1MQ sold by PRIME is tested by an independent laboratory, and the certificate of analysis for each lot is available on the lab results page. Match the COA to your lot number and keep a copy with your records.
Format, quantity and current batch information are listed on the 5-Amino-1MQ product page.
Related research
- AOD-9604 vs 5-Amino-1MQ: a comparison of two compounds studied in metabolic and adipose research through very different mechanisms.
- NAD+ research guide: background on the coenzyme whose salvage pathway NNMT competes with.
- SLU-PP-332 research guide: another small molecule studied in preclinical models of energy metabolism.
5-Amino-1MQ FAQ
Is 5-Amino-1MQ a peptide?
No. 5-Amino-1MQ is a small molecule, a methylquinolinium compound, rather than a chain of amino acids. It is often grouped with research peptides in catalogs, but chemically it is closer to a conventional small-molecule enzyme inhibitor.
What does NNMT do?
NNMT (nicotinamide N-methyltransferase) moves a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine onto nicotinamide, producing 1-methylnicotinamide. This links the enzyme to both NAD+ recycling and the cell's methylation balance, which is why it has become a research target.
How is 5-Amino-1MQ related to NAD+?
NNMT uses nicotinamide, a key input to the NAD+ salvage pathway. By inhibiting NNMT, 5-Amino-1MQ has been associated in cell studies with changes in intracellular NAD+ levels, which is why the two compounds are often discussed together in metabolic research.
Has 5-Amino-1MQ been tested in humans?
Published research on 5-Amino-1MQ has been preclinical, conducted in cell cultures and rodent models. It is not an approved medicine in the United States and is supplied only for laboratory research.
How should 5-Amino-1MQ be stored?
Store it sealed, cool, dry and protected from light, with refrigeration for longer periods. Keep any prepared solutions refrigerated, labeled and away from light, and avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
For laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption. Not a drug, food or cosmetic.