Research At a Glance
- Research Category
- Metabolic & Cellular Energy Research
- Peptide Length
- Small molecule (quinolinium salt, non-peptide)
- Purity
- ≥ 98% (HPLC)
- Published Studies
- Emerging (<25 indexed)
- Storage
- Lyophilized: 2–8 °C, protected from light. Reconstituted: 2–8 °C, use within 30 days.
Published-study figures are approximate PubMed result counts and indicate the volume of available literature only. Purity reflects third-party analytical testing on the corresponding lot; see the Quality Assurance Center for lot-matched certificates.
Overview
5-Amino-1MQ (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium) is a small-molecule research compound, not a peptide — a quinolinium derivative studied as a selective inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), an enzyme that methylates nicotinamide using S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) as the methyl donor. NNMT is expressed at elevated levels in white adipose tissue and liver in several preclinical models of obesity and metabolic dysfunction, which positioned it as a candidate research target for metabolic pathway studies.
Because 5-Amino-1MQ directly inhibits an enzyme rather than acting as a receptor ligand, its research profile is mechanistically distinct from GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists or growth hormone secretagogues. It was developed as part of a medicinal chemistry program at the University of Texas Medical Branch. All available data are from cell and animal models; no human trials have been published.
Citation: Neelakantan H., et al., Biochemical Pharmacology, 2018
History
NNMT was first identified as a metabolically relevant target when knockdown or inhibition in mouse models was shown to protect against diet-induced obesity, prompting a search for pharmacological (rather than genetic) inhibitors. Researchers at UTMB, led by Harshini Neelakantan and Stanley Watowich, screened a series of quinolinium analogs for NNMT-selective inhibition and identified 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium as a lead compound with low-micromolar potency, high selectivity over related methyltransferases, and cell membrane permeability.
Since the original 2018 characterization, research has extended into skeletal muscle aging, gut microbiome composition, and hepatic metabolic markers, each published in peer-reviewed pharmacology journals using diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse models.
Citation: Neelakantan H., et al., Biochemical Pharmacology, 2018
Structure
| CAS # | 48181-73-9 |
|---|---|
| Molecular Formula | C10H10N2 |
| Molecular Weight | 158.20 g/mol |
| PubChem CID | 736191 |
Research Findings
5-Amino-1MQ has been studied in diet-induced obese (DIO) mouse models, aged mouse skeletal muscle, and adipocyte cell culture, with reported activity centered on NNMT inhibition and its downstream effects on NAD+ and SAM availability.
Key areas of research
- Metabolic: Fat mass reduction, glucose tolerance, adipose NNMT activity in DIO mice
- Cellular energy: NAD+ and SAM pool preservation via NNMT inhibition
- Musculoskeletal: Satellite cell proliferation and regenerative capacity in aged skeletal muscle
- Gut/microbiome: Shifts in cecal microbiome composition when combined with dietary intervention
Summary. Together, these findings position 5-Amino-1MQ as a mechanistically distinct tool for studying NNMT's role in metabolic and methylation biology. Its activity across adipose, muscle, and gut models in rodents has made it a compound of interest for researchers examining age-related metabolic decline. As with all findings in this profile, effects are preclinical and rodent-derived; no controlled human data exist confirming translation to human physiology.
Citation: Neelakantan H., et al., Biochemical Pharmacology, 2018
References
- Neelakantan H., Vance V., Wetzel M.D., Wang H.L., McHardy S.F., Finnerty C.C., Hommel J.D., Watowich S.J. (2018). Selective and membrane-permeable small molecule inhibitors of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase reverse high fat diet-induced obesity in mice. Biochemical Pharmacology.
- Dimet-Wiley A., Wu Q., Wiley J.T., Eswar A., Neelakantan H., Savidge T., Watowich S. (2022). Reduced calorie diet combined with NNMT inhibition establishes a distinct microbiome in DIO mice. Scientific Reports.
- Neelakantan H., et al. (2019). NNMT inhibition in aged skeletal muscle: effects on satellite cell function and regenerative capacity. Biochemical Pharmacology.
Research Use Only
Provided for in-vitro laboratory research only. Not a drug, supplement, or cosmetic. Not for human or animal use.
Compound Specifications
| Classification | Small-molecule NNMT inhibitor |
|---|---|
| Format | Lyophilized powder |
| Purity | ≥99% (HPLC-verified per lot) |
| Storage | −20°C; refrigerate 2–8°C after laboratory handling |
Certificate of Analysis
Every lot is independently tested and lot-matched. View Certificates of Analysis