5-Amino-1MQ (NNMT Inhibitor): Research Reference
Research Use Only. This page is a technical reference for in-vitro laboratory research. Reserve Research compounds are not for human or veterinary use, and nothing here is guidance for administration of any kind.
In simple words
5-Amino-1MQ is a small chemical made in a lab. It is not a protein. It works like a key that gets stuck in a lock. The lock is a helper inside cells called NNMT.
NNMT uses up a form of vitamin B3. When NNMT is blocked, cells keep more of two helpers called NAD+ and SAM. Scientists use 5-Amino-1MQ in lab dishes to learn how this works.
Reserve Research sells 5-Amino-1MQ only for lab research. See 5-Amino-1MQ on our product page →
5-Amino-1MQ (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium) is a small-molecule inhibitor of the enzyme nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). It is not a peptide. It belongs to a series of N-methylated quinolinium compounds developed at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and it is used in cell-based research on NAD+ salvage, methyl-donor (SAM) balance and cellular metabolism. It is a positively charged quinolinium ion (C10H11N2+, ≈159.2 g/mol) and is usually supplied as a salt; the iodide salt is CAS 42464-96-0 (≈286.1 g/mol). Reported NNMT inhibition is in the low-micromolar range (IC50 ≈ 1.2 µM).
5-Amino-1MQ key facts
| Name | 5-Amino-1-methylquinolinium (5-Amino-1MQ, 5-amino-1-MQ) |
|---|---|
| Compound class | Small molecule; N-methylated quinolinium cation. Not a peptide and has no amino-acid sequence |
| Molecular target | Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT, EC 2.1.1.1) |
| Reported potency | IC50 ≈ 1.2 µM against NNMT (vendor-reported assay data); the quinolinium series inhibits NNMT at ≈1 µM (Neelakantan et al., 2017) |
| Formula (cation) | C10H11N2+, ≈159.2 g/mol |
| Iodide salt | C10H11N2·I, ≈286.1 g/mol, CAS 42464-96-0 |
| Solubility | Commonly prepared in DMSO for cell assays; exact solubility depends on the salt form |
| Storage (solid) | −20 °C, dry, protected from light |
| Origin | Watowich laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston) |
What NNMT does
NNMT is a cytosolic enzyme that transfers a methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) to nicotinamide. The products are 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MNA) and S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH). NNMT is expressed mainly in liver and adipose tissue, and lower levels are found in other tissues, including skeletal muscle.
Because nicotinamide is the main substrate for the NAD+ salvage pathway, and SAM is the cell’s main methyl donor, NNMT sits where two pathways meet: NAD+ recycling and cellular methylation. Researchers inhibit NNMT to study what happens when less nicotinamide is diverted into 1-MNA and less SAM is consumed. Reviews describe NNMT as “more than a vitamin B3 clearance enzyme” for this reason (Pissios, 2017). Gene-knockdown work established NNMT as a regulator of SAM and NAD+ levels in adipose tissue and liver (Kraus et al., 2014).
How 5-Amino-1MQ inhibits NNMT
5-Amino-1MQ resembles nicotinamide and competes for the enzyme’s substrate-binding site. Neelakantan et al. (2017) screened N-methylated quinolinium, isoquinolinium, pyridinium and benzimidazolium/benzothiazolium analogues, and found the quinolinium scaffold the most promising. Its members inhibited NNMT at around 1 µM, and docking scores tracked measured potency across a range of more than 1,000-fold. As a small cation, 5-Amino-1MQ crosses cell membranes, which makes it usable in intact-cell assays as well as purified-enzyme assays.
Findings in research models
- Cell-based metabolism: in cultured adipocyte models, membrane-permeable quinolinium NNMT inhibitors lowered intracellular 1-MNA and raised intracellular NAD+ and SAM (Neelakantan et al., 2018).
- Selectivity: the same work reported selectivity for NNMT over related SAM-dependent methyltransferases and NAD+ salvage enzymes.
- Muscle stem cell models: an NNMT inhibitor from this series was studied in aged-mouse muscle stem cell (muSC) research on muSC activation and NAD+-linked signaling (Neelakantan et al., 2019).
Most published data comes from one research group and from cell and rodent models. Treat it as an early-stage research tool, not a well-characterized agent.
Laboratory handling and storage
- Solid: store at −20 °C, dry and protected from light. Let the vial reach room temperature before opening.
- Stock solutions: DMSO is the usual solvent for cell-culture work. Aqueous preparations, including sterile bacteriostatic water, are also used; check solubility for your salt form and concentration.
- Salt form: mass-based calculations should use the molecular weight of the salt that was actually supplied. The 5-Amino-1MQ cation is ≈159.2 g/mol and the iodide salt is ≈286.1 g/mol.
- Prepared solutions: aliquot to avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles. Store refrigerated for short-term use or frozen for longer storage.
What a 5-Amino-1MQ certificate of analysis should show
- Identity: mass spectrometry showing the quinolinium cation at m/z ≈159.
- Purity: chromatographic purity reported for the specific batch.
- Batch traceability: a lot number that matches the vial label.
Every Reserve Research batch is tested by an independent lab. You can look up any batch number on our COA verification page.
Frequently asked questions
What is 5-Amino-1MQ?
5-Amino-1MQ (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium) is a membrane-permeable small-molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). It is used in laboratory research on NAD+ salvage and SAM-dependent methylation.
Is 5-Amino-1MQ a peptide?
No. Although it is often sold alongside peptides, 5-Amino-1MQ is a small quinolinium molecule with no amino-acid sequence. The “amino” in its name refers to an amino (–NH2) group on the quinoline ring.
What does NNMT inhibition do at the cellular level?
NNMT uses SAM to methylate nicotinamide, producing 1-methylnicotinamide and SAH. Blocking it in cell models reduces 1-MNA formation and has been associated with higher intracellular NAD+ and SAM.
What is the CAS number for 5-Amino-1MQ?
The iodide salt, the form most often catalogued, is CAS 42464-96-0 (C10H11N2·I, ≈286.1 g/mol).
What is the molecular weight of 5-Amino-1MQ?
About 159.2 g/mol for the 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium cation and about 286.1 g/mol for the iodide salt.
Who developed 5-Amino-1MQ?
The quinolinium NNMT inhibitor series was developed and characterized by Stanley Watowich, Harshini Neelakantan and colleagues at the University of Texas Medical Branch, with structure–activity work published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry in 2017.
How should 5-Amino-1MQ be stored?
Store the solid at −20 °C, dry and protected from light. Aliquot stock solutions and avoid repeated freeze–thaw cycles.
Is Reserve Research 5-Amino-1MQ sold for laboratory research only?
Yes. It is sold strictly for in-vitro laboratory research. It is not a drug or supplement, and it is not for human or veterinary use.
Research-grade 5-Amino-1MQ from Reserve Research
5-Amino-1MQ is supplied in sealed vials, independently tested batch by batch, with the COA available through the product page and /verify. Related: bacteriostatic water and our GHK-Cu reference.
References
- Neelakantan H, Wang HY, Vance V, Hommel JD, McHardy SF, Watowich SJ. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 2017;60(12):5015–5028. doi:10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b00389
- Neelakantan H, Vance V, Wetzel MD, et al. Biochemical Pharmacology. 2018;147:141–152. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2017.11.007
- Neelakantan H, Brightwell CR, Graber TG, et al. Biochemical Pharmacology. 2019;163:481–492. doi:10.1016/j.bcp.2019.02.008
- Pissios P. Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism. 2017;28(5):340–353. doi:10.1016/j.tem.2017.02.004
- Kraus D, Yang Q, Kong D, et al. Nature. 2014;508:258–262. doi:10.1038/nature13198
Last reviewed: October 2026. This page summarizes published laboratory literature for reference. It makes no claims about the safety or effectiveness of any compound in humans or animals.