5-Amino-1MQ is a small-molecule inhibitor of the enzyme nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), supplied as a methylquinolinium research chemical for in vitro laboratory study — it is not a peptide.
This profile covers what 5-Amino-1MQ is at the chemical level, how its scaffold relates to the NNMT active site, and the in-vitro readouts most often used to characterise it. Every frame here is structural, enzymatic, or methodological; nothing on this page describes use in a living organism. The compound is tied to the 5-Amino-1MQ research listing in the Happy Peptides catalog.
What is 5-Amino-1MQ?
5-Amino-1MQ (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium) is a synthetic small molecule built on a quinolinium heterocyclic core. A methyl group sits on the ring nitrogen at position 1 and an amino group at position 5, which leaves the cation with a permanent positive charge. It carries no amino-acid backbone and no peptide bonds, so it is classed as a small-molecule organic cation rather than a peptide. In research catalogs it is typically supplied as the iodide salt of a solid powder.
What are its identifiers and molecular data?
| Property | Cation | Iodide salt (as supplied) |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C10H11N2+ | C10H11IN2 |
| Molecular weight | 159.21 g/mol | 286.11 g/mol |
| CAS number | — | 42464-96-0 |
| PubChem CID | 950107 | 66522933 |
These values were cross-checked against PubChem: CID 950107 returns the cation (C10H11N2+, 159.21 g/mol, title “5-amino-1-methylquinolinium”) and CAS 42464-96-0 returns the iodide salt (C10H11IN2, 286.11 g/mol). The naming conventions and spelling variants are collected in the companion chemistry and naming guide.
What enzyme does it target, and how?
Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) is a cytosolic methyltransferase. It transfers a methyl group from the cofactor S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) onto nicotinamide, producing 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MNA) and S-adenosyl-L-homocysteine (SAH). Because nicotinamide also feeds the NAD+ salvage pathway, NNMT activity sits at a branch point between methylation chemistry and NAD+ recycling in cell models. 5-Amino-1MQ is studied as a nicotinamide-competitive small-molecule inhibitor whose methylquinolinium scaffold resembles the enzyme’s natural substrate, letting it occupy the nicotinamide-binding pocket in enzymatic assays. The assay design behind these readouts is detailed in the NNMT, NAD+ salvage and SAM assay guide.
Is 5-Amino-1MQ a peptide?
No. A peptide is a chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds; 5-Amino-1MQ is a single heterocyclic cation with a molecular weight under 300 g/mol and no amide backbone. That distinction matters for solubility, handling, and assay choice, and it is a frequent search question — the small-molecule vs peptide explainer works through the classification in full.
How is it characterised in vitro?
Common research readouts include enzymatic inhibition assays that track 1-MNA or SAH formation, IC50 determination against recombinant NNMT, and cell-based methylation-flux or NAD+/NADH measurements in metabolic cell models. Identity and purity are confirmed by HPLC and mass spectrometry, and quantities are expressed in molarity or mg/mL rather than any other unit. Researchers sourcing the material should review a batch certificate of analysis and the solubility and storage notes before preparing stocks.
Related research guides
- Is 5-Amino-1MQ a Peptide? Small-Molecule NNMT Inhibitors vs Peptides
- 5-Amino-1-Methylquinolinium: Chemistry, Naming and Spelling Variants
- NNMT, the NAD+ Salvage Pathway and SAM: Assay Design In Vitro
- Sourcing 5-Amino-1MQ as a Research Material: COA and Purity
- 5-Amino-1MQ Solubility and Storage in Aqueous Stock
Research-use note
All materials discussed are supplied for in vitro laboratory research use only, and are not for human or animal use.
