Key Takeaways
- •5-Amino-1MQ is a small molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), an enzyme that sits beside the NAD+ salvage pathway and consumes methyl groups.
- •It is a quinolinium cation, C₁₀H₁₁N₂⁺ (about 159.2 g/mol), supplied as a salt. As the iodide it is C₁₀H₁₁IN₂, 286.11 g/mol, CAS 42464-96-0.
- •NNMT transfers a methyl group from S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) to nicotinamide, producing N-methylnicotinamide (MNA). Inhibiting it is proposed to leave more nicotinamide available for NAD+ salvage and to reduce SAM consumption.
- •The pathway is textbook biochemistry. Compound-specific data are sparse and come from a small number of laboratories.
- •Its pharmacokinetics and toxicology are uncharacterised, and no human clinical trial was identified as of July 2026.
- •5-Amino-1MQ is not approved for human use and is sold exclusively for laboratory research purposes.
Summary
5-Amino-1MQ is not a peptide. It is a small molecule, a quinolinium salt, and it acts by inhibiting one enzyme: nicotinamide N-methyltransferase, usually shortened to NNMT.
NNMT takes a methyl group from SAM and transfers it to nicotinamide. That reaction has two biochemical consequences for a cell. It consumes a methyl group, and it removes nicotinamide from the pool that the salvage pathway would otherwise recycle into NAD+. Inhibiting the enzyme is therefore proposed to do two things at once: leave more nicotinamide available for NAD+ regeneration, and reduce SAM consumption.
The pathway itself is well characterised. The compound is not. Its literature comes from a small number of laboratories, nobody has characterised its pharmacokinetics or bioavailability, there is no published toxicology, and no human trial was registered as of July 2026. Treat the compound-specific findings as hypothesis-generating.
Evidence Quality Summary
| Evidence Area | Strength | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| NNMT reaction and NAD+ salvage biochemistry | Strong | Well characterised enzymology |
| NNMT inhibition by 5-Amino-1MQ in cell culture | Low to moderate | Consistent findings across a few laboratories |
| Rodent studies | Low | Few studies; most from single research groups; limited replication |
| Pharmacokinetics and toxicology | Very low | No published formal studies |
| Human data | None | No trials identified as of July 2026 |
What Is 5-Amino-1MQ?
5-Amino-1MQ, also known as 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium, is a small molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). Its IUPAC name is 5-amino-1-methylquinolin-1-ium, and the cation is C₁₀H₁₁N₂⁺. Because it is a permanent cation it is always supplied as a salt. The iodide, C₁₀H₁₁IN₂, 286.11 g/mol, CAS 42464-96-0, is what registries and supplier catalogues usually mean by "5-Amino-1MQ"; a mass spectrometer, by contrast, sees the free cation at about 159, so a certificate's MS precursor and a catalogue's molecular weight legitimately differ. It is structurally related to other quinolinium-based NNMT inhibitors and was developed as a tool for studying NNMT function.
Mechanism of Action
5-Amino-1MQ has been reported to inhibit NNMT, the enzyme that transfers a methyl group from S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) to nicotinamide, producing N-methylnicotinamide (MNA) and S-adenosyl homocysteine. This reaction consumes SAM and diverts nicotinamide away from the NAD+ salvage pathway. By inhibiting NNMT, 5-Amino-1MQ is hypothesised to increase intracellular nicotinamide availability, supporting NAD+ regeneration via the salvage pathway (nicotinamide to NMN by NAMPT, then NMN to NAD+). Because SAM is the cell's general methyl donor, NNMT inhibition may also change the SAM to SAH ratio that other methyltransferases depend on, a link Ulanovskaya et al. described as a "methylation sink" in cancer cell lines. While the biochemical pathway is well characterised, compound-specific evidence linking 5-Amino-1MQ to downstream changes in vivo remains limited.
How the Literature Was Produced
In vitro work has used adipocyte and hepatocyte cultures, in which NNMT inhibition with 5-Amino-1MQ has been reported to raise intracellular NAD+ and alter gene expression. A small number of rodent studies exist. This article does not summarise what those rodent studies were reported to show about the animals; the features below determine how much weight that work can carry.
- Few laboratories. Most published studies originate from a small number of research groups, and independent replication is lacking.
- Genetic and pharmacological work are mixed. Some of the most cited NNMT papers used knockdown of the enzyme rather than this compound (Kraus et al. 2014), so they describe NNMT, not 5-Amino-1MQ.
- No pharmacokinetic characterisation. Pharmacokinetics, bioavailability and long-term effects are uncharacterised.
- No human data. As of July 2026, no registered human clinical trial was identified on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- No retractions known. No retractions or expressions of concern have been issued for 5-Amino-1MQ-specific studies at this time, though the broader NNMT field has seen contested findings. Evaluate source studies critically and allow for publication bias.
Handling and Safety
No formal toxicology or safety pharmacology studies for 5-Amino-1MQ have been published. The compound is not approved for human use by any regulatory agency. Because it is proposed to change SAM availability, off-target effects on other SAM-dependent methylation reactions are a plausible consequence that has not been studied, and NNMT is expressed in multiple tissues. Handle 5-Amino-1MQ with appropriate laboratory precautions, as an uncharacterised research chemical.
Current Research Status
5-Amino-1MQ remains a research chemical with a limited preclinical literature. Current investigations focus on its role as a tool for studying NNMT, NAD+ salvage and SAM-dependent methylation. Further work would require independent replication, concentration-response studies and pharmacokinetic characterisation. The Research Hub provides wider context, and a glossary of related terms is at the Peptide Glossary.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary research application of 5-Amino-1MQ?
5-Amino-1MQ is used as a tool compound in preclinical research to study the role of NNMT in NAD+ salvage and SAM-dependent methyl group metabolism. It is not intended for human use.
Has 5-Amino-1MQ been tested in humans?
No. As of July 2026, no human clinical trials have been conducted or registered for 5-Amino-1MQ. All available evidence comes from in vitro and rodent studies.
How does NNMT inhibition differ from supplying an NAD+ precursor such as nicotinamide riboside?
5-Amino-1MQ inhibits NNMT, which may indirectly increase nicotinamide available for NAD+ synthesis. Nicotinamide riboside and nicotinamide mononucleotide are themselves NAD+ precursors and enter the pathway directly. The biochemistry of the two routes is distinct.
Why does the molecular weight differ between documents?
Because 5-Amino-1MQ is a salt. A catalogue usually quotes the iodide, 286.11 g/mol, while a mass spectrometer observes the free cation near 159. Both are correct for what they describe.
Is 5-Amino-1MQ considered safe for laboratory use?
Standard laboratory safety precautions should be followed. No formal toxicology data are available, and the compound should be handled as an uncharacterised research chemical.
References
- Kraus, D., Yang, Q., Kong, D., Banks, A. S., Zhang, L., Rodgers, J. T., ... & Spiegelman, B. M. (2014). Nature, 508(7495), 258-262. NNMT knockdown study.
- Neelakantan, H., Vance, V., Wetzel, M. D., Wang, H. Y., McHardy, S. F., Finnerty, C. C., ... & Watowich, S. J. (2018). Biochemical Pharmacology, 147, 141-152. Small-molecule NNMT inhibitor study.
- Ulanovskaya, O. A., Zuhl, A. M., & Cravatt, B. F. (2013). "NNMT promotes epigenetic remodeling in cancer by creating a metabolic methylation sink." Nature Chemical Biology, 9(5), 300-306.
- van Haren, M. J., Taig, R., Kuppens, J., & van der Stelt, M. (2021). Drug Discovery Today, 26(11), 2674-2685. A review of NNMT inhibitors.
Research-Only Disclaimer
5-Amino-1MQ is sold for laboratory research purposes only, to qualified researchers and licensed laboratories. It is not approved for human consumption, veterinary use, or any clinical application. This article is for informational and educational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Researchers should consult relevant safety data sheets and institutional guidelines before handling this compound. For further details, please see the Research Disclaimer.
Reviewed by the Volta Peptides Research Team
