What is 5-Amino-1MQ?
5-Amino-1MQ, also written 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium and abbreviated NNMTi in some literature, is a small organic molecule belonging to the quinolinium class. Its active cationic core carries the molecular formula C10H11N2+ (monoisotopic cation mass approximately 159.21; PubChem CID 950107). As a cationic species it is isolated and handled as a salt; the material described here corresponds to the salt form indexed under CAS 42464-96-0, molecular formula C10H11IN2, with a molecular weight of 286.11 (PubChem CID 66522933). It is not a peptide and contains no amino acid residues.
Structurally, the molecule consists of a bicyclic quinoline ring system that has been quaternized by a methyl group on the ring nitrogen (position 1), producing a permanently charged quinolinium cation, with a primary amino (-NH2) substituent at the 5-position. The permanent positive charge on the ring nitrogen and the accompanying counter-ion give the compound its salt-like character and its aqueous handling behavior. The IUPAC name of the cation is 1-methylquinolin-1-ium-5-amine.
In the published literature, 5-Amino-1MQ is described as a small-molecule inhibitor of nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), a cytosolic enzyme that transfers a methyl group from S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAM) to nicotinamide. It has accordingly been used as a chemical tool in laboratory models of NNMT enzymatic activity and cellular NAD+/methylation metabolism. This monograph describes that research context only; it does not describe any use in humans or animals, and it makes no therapeutic, medical, efficacy, or outcome claims. The material is offered for laboratory research use only and is not a drug, food, or cosmetic.
Reconstitution & handling
5-Amino-1MQ is supplied as a solid in a 50 mg vial and is prepared for laboratory work by dissolution rather than by peptide-style reconstitution. As a quinolinium salt, the compound is generally water-soluble, and many aqueous buffer systems used for in-vitro enzymatic or cell-based assays are suitable for preparing stock solutions. For applications requiring higher stock concentrations or improved wetting of the solid, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is a commonly used aprotic solvent; when DMSO stocks are subsequently diluted into aqueous media, the final solvent fraction should be kept low enough to remain compatible with the assay system in use. Solvent selection should always be verified empirically against the requirements of the specific experimental model.
When preparing solutions, the solid should be allowed to reach room temperature before opening the vial to limit condensation, and the target concentration should be calculated from the mass in the vial and the molecular weight (286.11 for the salt form). Gentle mixing until fully dissolved is preferred over vigorous agitation, and prepared solutions may be passed through an appropriate membrane filter where sterility or particulate removal is required. Because the compound is light- and moisture-sensitive, stock solutions should be protected from light, labeled with concentration and date, and handled under conditions appropriate for a research chemical. All handling described here is for laboratory research use only.
Storage & stability
The solid should be stored at -20°C, tightly sealed and protected from light and moisture, and is most stable when kept desiccated. Prepared solutions are best held at 2-8°C for short-term laboratory use and divided into single-use aliquots for longer-term storage at -20°C to minimize repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which can degrade research chemicals over time. Actual stability under any given set of conditions should be confirmed empirically for the specific buffer, concentration, and storage system in use.
How it's tested
Analytical identity and purity are established using standard small-molecule techniques. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is used to assess chromatographic purity, with a specification of ≥98%, and mass spectrometry (MS) is used to confirm molecular identity against the expected mass of the compound. Additional orthogonal methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy may be applied to corroborate structural identity. A Certificate of Analysis is not currently available for this compound; the methods described here characterize analytical identity and purity and are provided for reference in a laboratory research context only.