5-Amino-1MQ: NNMT Inhibitor Research Guide and Where to Buy

What Is 5-Amino-1MQ?

5-Amino-1MQ (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium) is a cell-permeable, small molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) — an enzyme that catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from SAM (S-adenosylmethionine) to nicotinamide, producing 1-methylnicotinamide and S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). By blocking NNMT, 5-Amino-1MQ preserves both NAD+ and the methyl donor pool (SAM), simultaneously addressing two critical aspects of metabolic and epigenetic regulation that decline with aging and obesity.

NNMT was identified as a potential target for metabolic disease when researchers observed it is significantly upregulated in obese adipose tissue, contributing to a “metabolic epigenome” that perpetuates adiposity. The development of selective NNMT inhibitors like 5-Amino-1MQ has opened a new avenue for research into reversing obesity-related metabolic dysfunction through epigenetic mechanisms.

Mechanism of Action

• NNMT Inhibition: Competitively inhibits the NNMT enzyme, blocking nicotinamide methylation at its active site
• NAD+ Preservation: Reduces conversion of nicotinamide to 1-methylnicotinamide, routing more nicotinamide toward NAD+ biosynthesis via NAMPT
• SAM Preservation: Reduces SAM consumption, increasing methyl donor availability for epigenetic methylation reactions (DNA methylation, histone methylation)
• Adipocyte Metabolism: NNMT inhibition in adipocytes increases mitochondrial activity, fatty acid oxidation, and thermogenesis
• UCP1 Upregulation: Promotes thermogenic gene expression in white adipose tissue, effectively inducing “browning” of white fat
• Sirtuin Activation: Increased NAD+ availability enhances SIRT1 and SIRT3 activity, the downstream mediators of many anti-aging effects

Key Research Data

Obesity and Metabolic Research

• Hong et al. (Nature Chemical Biology, 2015): Identified NNMT as a critical regulator of adipose tissue metabolism; NNMT knockdown reduced obesity and improved insulin sensitivity in diet-induced obese mice
• Caton et al. (Diabetologia, 2011): NNMT overexpression impairs insulin signaling in hepatocytes — establishing NNMT as a target in type 2 diabetes research
• 5-Amino-1MQ specifically shown to reduce adipocyte size and increase mitochondrial density in in vitro differentiation models
• Rodent studies: 5-Amino-1MQ treatment reduced body weight gain on high-fat diet and improved glucose tolerance vs. vehicle controls

NAD+ and Aging Research

• NNMT activity increases with age, contributing to age-related NAD+ decline independently of precursor availability
• 5-Amino-1MQ provides a complementary approach to NAD+ precursor supplementation by reducing NAD+ consumption
• Combined NNMT inhibition + NMN supplementation shows synergistic NAD+ restoration in aged tissue models

Cancer Metabolism Research

• NNMT is overexpressed in multiple cancer types (pancreatic, colorectal, ovarian) and correlates with poor prognosis
• NNMT inhibition reduces cancer cell migration and invasiveness in vitro, positioning 5-Amino-1MQ as a tool for oncological metabolic research

5-Amino-1MQ vs. NAD+ Precursors — Mechanistic Comparison

HPLC Verified

5-Amino-1MQ 5mg

Purity: 99%+ HPLC

Format: Lyophilized Powder

Testing: Third-Party COA

$160

Buy Now

Research Disclaimer: This product is sold strictly for in vitro research and laboratory use only. Not for human consumption. Not medical advice.