5-Amino-1MQ — Complete Research Guide (2026)

Last updated 2026-06-25

What is 5-Amino-1MQ?

5-Amino-1MQ (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium) is a small-molecule, membrane-permeable inhibitor of the enzyme nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT); it is not a peptide.

It is an investigational research chemical with no approval by the FDA, EMA, or any regulatory authority for human use, and it is not a dietary supplement or medicine.

The entire evidence base is preclinical (cell and rodent studies, largely from the Neelakantan and Kraus groups); there are no published controlled human trials.

How does 5-Amino-1MQ work?

5-Amino-1MQ inhibits NNMT, an enzyme that consumes nicotinamide and S-adenosylmethionine; reducing its activity is proposed to raise cellular NAD+/SAM salvage and shift adipocyte and muscle energy metabolism in preclinical models. [INFOGRAPHIC: 5-Amino-1MQ NNMT inhibition and NAD+ metabolism]

What does the research say about 5-Amino-1MQ?

• In diet-induced obese mice, 5-amino-1MQ reversed high-fat-diet-induced obesity and reduced fat mass without reducing food intake (preclinical only). ^[1]
• In aged mice, the NNMT inhibitor activated senescent muscle stem cells and improved the regenerative capacity of aged skeletal muscle (preclinical only). ^[3]
• In aged mice, NNMT inhibition mimicked and boosted exercise-mediated improvements in muscle function (preclinical only). ^[6]

Clinical research & studies

The references below are the primary sources cited throughout this guide. Each links directly to PubMed or the regulator. Where evidence is preclinical (animal or in-vitro), that is stated rather than implied.

• [1] Selective and membrane-permeable small molecule inhibitors of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase reverse high fat diet-induced obesity in mice — Neelakantan H et al., Biochem Pharmacol 2018. (animal)
• [2] Structure-Activity Relationship for Small Molecule Inhibitors of Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase — Neelakantan H et al., J Med Chem 2017. (in-vitro)
• [3] Small molecule nicotinamide N-methyltransferase inhibitor activates senescent muscle stem cells and improves regenerative capacity of aged skeletal muscle — Neelakantan H et al., Biochem Pharmacol 2019. (animal)
• [4] Development & validation of LC-MS/MS assay for 5-amino-1-methyl quinolinium in rat plasma: Application to pharmacokinetic and oral bioavailability studies — Awosemo O et al., J Pharm Biomed Anal 2021. (animal)
• [5] Reduced calorie diet combined with NNMT inhibition establishes a distinct microbiome in DIO mice — Dimet-Wiley A et al., Sci Rep 2022. (animal)
• [6] Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase inhibition mimics and boosts exercise-mediated improvements in muscle function in aged mice — Dimet-Wiley AL et al., Sci Rep 2024. (animal)

Dosing context

No human dosing regimen has been established, and none should be inferred from animal studies; published doses exist only as milligram-per-kilogram values in mice and rats within controlled research protocols.

This entry documents research context only and is not a protocol or recommendation for human administration.

Side effects & safety profile

There are no human safety data for 5-amino-1MQ; all available toxicology, tolerability, and efficacy information comes from cell and rodent studies.

Reported rodent work has focused on efficacy and pharmacokinetics rather than long-term safety, so the human adverse-effect profile, drug interactions, and long-term risks are unknown.

Because NNMT sits at a node of NAD+ and methylation metabolism, off-target metabolic effects cannot be excluded and remain uncharacterized in humans.

Stacking & combinations

No combination or stacking regimens have been studied clinically; any pairing with other compounds is unstudied and outside the published evidence.

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References

1. [1] Selective and membrane-permeable small molecule inhibitors of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase reverse high fat diet-induced obesity in mice — Neelakantan H et al., Biochem Pharmacol 2018. PMID: 29155147. View sourceStudy: animal5-amino-1MQ dosing reversed high-fat-diet-induced obesity and lowered adiposity in mice.
2. [2] Structure-Activity Relationship for Small Molecule Inhibitors of Nicotinamide N-Methyltransferase — Neelakantan H et al., J Med Chem 2017. PMID: 28548833. View sourceStudy: in-vitroCharacterized the NNMT-inhibitor chemical series and potency, including the 1-methylquinolinium scaffold behind 5-amino-1MQ.
3. [3] Small molecule nicotinamide N-methyltransferase inhibitor activates senescent muscle stem cells and improves regenerative capacity of aged skeletal muscle — Neelakantan H et al., Biochem Pharmacol 2019. PMID: 30753815. View sourceStudy: animalNNMT inhibition activated aged-muscle stem cells and improved skeletal-muscle regeneration in mice.
4. [4] Development & validation of LC-MS/MS assay for 5-amino-1-methyl quinolinium in rat plasma: Application to pharmacokinetic and oral bioavailability studies — Awosemo O et al., J Pharm Biomed Anal 2021. PMID: 34304009. View sourceStudy: animalQuantified 5-amino-1MQ pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability in rats using a validated assay.
5. [5] Reduced calorie diet combined with NNMT inhibition establishes a distinct microbiome in DIO mice — Dimet-Wiley A et al., Sci Rep 2022. PMID: 35013352. View sourceStudy: animalNNMT inhibition plus calorie restriction shifted the gut microbiome in diet-induced obese mice.
6. [6] Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase inhibition mimics and boosts exercise-mediated improvements in muscle function in aged mice — Dimet-Wiley AL et al., Sci Rep 2024. PMID: 38969654. View sourceStudy: animalNNMT inhibition reproduced and augmented exercise-related muscle-function gains in aged mice.

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