5-Amino-1MQ: NNMT inhibitor mechanism and published research
- Type: small molecule (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium), not a peptide
- Target: nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT)
- Cation mass: C10H11N2+, 159.09 Da; usually supplied as a salt
- Evidence base: cell and mouse studies; the literature is small
- Status: research reagent; not an authorised medicine
What 5-Amino-1MQ is
5-Amino-1-methylquinolinium (5-amino-1MQ) is a small, membrane-permeable quinolinium compound. It is often sold alongside peptides, but chemically it has nothing in common with them, so peptide-style analysis (amino-acid sequence, multiply charged ions) does not apply. It is studied as an inhibitor of NNMT.1
What NNMT does
Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase transfers a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine to nicotinamide, producing 1-methylnicotinamide. That reaction touches two pools researchers care about, the methyl donor and the NAD+ precursor nicotinamide, which is why NNMT sits at the junction of metabolism and epigenetic regulation. Knockdown of NNMT in white adipose tissue and liver protected mice from diet-induced obesity in an influential Nature study.2 For the coenzyme side of this pathway see our NAD+ review.
Mouse studies
The main paper for this compound reported that selective, membrane-permeable NNMT inhibitors, including 5-amino-1MQ, reversed high-fat-diet-induced obesity in mice, and examined effects on adipose tissue and on cellular NAD+ and methylation-related metabolites.1 It is the principal primary source for the compound; most secondary material online cites it.
Other NNMT inhibitors
Different chemotypes have been tested too. A Scientific Reports paper describes a distinct small-molecule NNMT inhibitor evaluated for metabolic disorders and solved its binding structure.3 Comparing compounds helps separate effects of NNMT inhibition from effects of one particular molecule.
Limits of the evidence
- There are very few primary papers on 5-amino-1MQ itself; most of the available text is secondary and promotional.
- All key data are preclinical (cells and mice).
- Selectivity, off-target activity and exposure in other species are not established by the papers cited here.
Regulatory status
To our knowledge 5-amino-1MQ is not an authorised medicine in the EU or US. Regulatory positions change, so confirm the current status with the relevant authority. Null Bio Lab supplies it strictly as a laboratory research reagent.
Verifying a batch
A small-molecule report should show HPLC purity, identity by mass (the cation appears at m/z 159.09), the salt form stated, measured quantity, and a batch number matching the vial. If a report is written as if the compound were a peptide, that is a warning sign. See how to read a peptide COA. Reagent page: NB-5-Amino-1MQ.
Frequently asked questions
What is 5-Amino-1MQ?
5-amino-1-methylquinolinium, a small-molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT).
Is 5-Amino-1MQ a peptide?
No. It is a quinolinium small molecule with a cation mass of 159.09 Da.
What does NNMT do?
It methylates nicotinamide using S-adenosylmethionine, linking methyl-group and NAD+ precursor metabolism.
How much research exists on it?
Very little primary research. The best-known source is a 2018 Biochemical Pharmacology paper on mice.
References
- Neelakantan H, et al. Selective and membrane-permeable small molecule inhibitors of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase reverse high fat diet-induced obesity in mice. Biochemical Pharmacology. 2018;147. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2017.11.007. PMID 29155147.
- Kraus D, et al. Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase knockdown protects against diet-induced obesity. Nature. 2014;508. doi:10.1038/nature13198.
- Kannt A, et al. A small molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase for the treatment of metabolic disorders. Scientific Reports. 2018;8:3660. doi:10.1038/s41598-018-22081-7.
Related reading
For newly published papers on this and other peptides, see the live feed on the Research Desk.