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FAT LOSSResearch OnlyNNMT INHIBITORFAT LOSSNAD+

5-amino-1MQ

Also known as: 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium · 5A1MQ · 5-amino-1MQ chloride

6.7k views/week 52 citations 3 edits Updated 4/4/2026

5-amino-1MQ is a small-molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) — an enzyme highly overexpressed in adipose tissue that drives fat accumulation and suppresses energy expenditure. By blocking NNMT, it elevates NAD+ precursor availability, activates SIRT1 pathways, and promotes lipolysis without stimulant effects. Strong preclinical results for obesity and metabolic syndrome.

STRUCTURE

Molecular Composition

FORMULA
C₁₀H₁₁ClN₂
MOL. WEIGHT
194.66 Da
TYPE
Small molecule (quinolinium)
CAS NUMBER
4213-45-0
TARGET
NNMT (Ki ~50 nM)
STATUS
Research only
AMINO ACID CHAIN VISUALIZATION
Q
Quinolinium ring
NNMT binding scaffold
NH-CO
N
N-methyl (pos 1)
enzyme active site fit
NH-CO
A
Amino (pos 5)
selectivity determinant
SEQUENCEQ-N-A
MECHANISMS

How It Works

🔑
NNMT Enzyme Inhibition
NNMT (nicotinamide N-methyltransferase) is dramatically overexpressed in white adipose tissue in obesity. 5-amino-1MQ binds the nicotinamide pocket of NNMT with ~50 nM potency, competitively blocking the methylation and depletion of nicotinamide. This is the upstream switch that triggers all downstream metabolic effects — restoring NAD+ precursor availability and SAM pool.
NAD+ Elevation & Sirtuin Activation
By blocking NNMT-mediated nicotinamide consumption, 5-amino-1MQ increases intracellular nicotinamide levels — the direct precursor to NAD+ synthesis via the salvage pathway. Elevated NAD+ activates SIRT1 and SIRT3 in adipose tissue, driving PGC-1α deacetylation, mitochondrial biogenesis, fatty acid oxidation, and suppression of lipogenesis.
🧬
SAM Pool Restoration & Epigenetic Reprogramming
NNMT consumes SAM (S-adenosylmethionine) as its methyl donor. In obese adipose tissue, NNMT overexpression depletes SAM, starving other methyltransferases including DNMTs and histone methyltransferases. 5-amino-1MQ restores SAM availability, potentially reversing obesity-associated epigenetic marks in adipocytes — a mechanism that could produce durable metabolic improvements.
🔥
White-to-Beige Adipocyte Shift
Preclinical studies show NNMT inhibition promotes a phenotypic shift in white adipocytes toward beige/brown characteristics — including UCP1 upregulation, increased mitochondrial density, and enhanced thermogenic capacity. This fundamentally reprograms fat tissue from an energy-storage to an energy-burning phenotype, increasing basal metabolic rate without cardiovascular stimulation.
OVERVIEW

Research Overview

5-amino-1MQ (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium) is a small quinolinium salt, not a peptide — included in the metabolic category due to its NNMT inhibition mechanism and common use alongside peptide-based weight loss protocols.

NNMT is dramatically overexpressed in white adipose tissue in obesity, acting as a metabolic brake by consuming SAM while depleting NAD+ precursors. 5-amino-1MQ blocks NNMT, restoring SAM availability and NAD+ levels, which activates SIRT1/SIRT3 and promotes fatty acid oxidation in adipocytes.

Mechanism of Action

// NNMT INHIBITION & NAD+ RESTORATION

5-amino-1MQ binds the nicotinamide pocket of NNMT with ~50 nM potency, preventing nicotinamide methylation and depletion. Elevated NAD+ activates SIRT1 in adipose tissue, driving PGC-1α deacetylation, mitochondrial biogenesis, and fatty acid oxidation.

// ADIPOCYTE METABOLISM REPROGRAMMING

NNMT inhibition reduces lipid droplet size, upregulates fatty acid oxidation genes (CPT1A, HADHA), and suppresses lipogenic transcription factors. Effects resemble a shift toward beige/brown adipocyte phenotype with increased UCP1 expression.

// SAM POOL RESTORATION

Restoring SAM availability enables proper function of DNA and histone methyltransferases, potentially reversing obesity-associated epigenetic marks in adipose tissue for durable metabolic reprogramming.

SEQUENCE

Amino Acid Sequence

Small molecule (quinolinium salt — not a peptide)
DOSAGE

Dosage & Administration

ORAL (PRIMARY ROUTE)
DOSE
50–150 mg
FREQUENCY
Once or twice daily with food
NOTES
Most commonly used route based on rodent pharmacokinetic data showing oral bioavailability. Research doses in human protocols typically start at 50 mg/day and escalate to 100–150 mg/day based on tolerance. No formal human dose-finding trials have been completed — these doses are derived from allometric scaling from rodent effective doses.
INJECTABLE (SUBCUTANEOUS — RESEARCH)
DOSE
25–50 mg
FREQUENCY
Once daily
NOTES
Less common route. Injectable use bypasses first-pass metabolism for higher bioavailability. Dissolve in DMSO/saline vehicle. Used in some research protocols alongside peptide stacks. No human safety data specifically for injectable administration exists.

5-amino-1MQ is NOT a peptide — it is a small-molecule NNMT inhibitor included in the metabolic category due to its fat-loss mechanism and common use alongside GLP-1/peptide protocols. Human safety and dosing data are essentially non-existent beyond preclinical studies. All human protocols are extrapolated from rodent data. Use with significant caution and awareness of the complete lack of clinical trial data. No significant adverse effects were noted in rodent studies at research doses.

CYCLING

Cycle Duration Guide

ON CYCLE
4–8 weeks (typical research protocol)
OFF CYCLE
2–4 weeks

Cycling protocols for 5-amino-1MQ are entirely derived from community research practice — no clinical cycling data exists. Short cycles are used to assess effects and monitor for any adverse responses. The epigenetic changes in adipose tissue SAM methylation may persist beyond the treatment period — potentially creating residual metabolic improvements during the off-cycle. This is speculative based on mechanism.

NOTES

Research Notes

Key preclinical study: Obese mice treated with 5-amino-1MQ showed 7% body weight reduction, 30% fat mass reduction, improved glucose tolerance, and reduced liver fat without changes in food intake — within 14 days. No completed human clinical trials as of 2024. All human dosing extrapolated from rodent data.

Quick Reference
FORMULAC₁₀H₁₁ClN₂
MOL. WEIGHT194.66 Da
LENGTH0 amino acids
ORIGINSynthetic small molecule; NNMT inhibitor
HALF-LIFENot well characterized in humans; ~2–4 hours estimated
SOLUBILITYSoluble in DMSO and water (HCl salt); oral bioavailability demonstrated in rodents
CAS NO.4213-45-0
STATUSResearch Only
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TAGS
NNMT inhibitorfat lossNAD+metabolicobesitysmall molecule