By: Laura Mildon
5-Amino-1MQ is a synthetic small molecule whose full name is 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium. Researchers study it as an inhibitor of the enzyme nicotinamide N-methyltransferase, or NNMT. Its chemical identity, laboratory findings, and regulatory status are distinct questions.
A molecule is a group of atoms bonded together. “Small molecule” describes a relatively compact chemical compound. Caffeine is a familiar example. The term describes a type of chemical structure; it does not establish safety, effectiveness, or suitability for a particular use.
Peptides are chains of amino acids joined by peptide bonds. 5-Amino-1MQ instead has two fused chemical rings. The word “amino” in its name refers to an attached amino group, not a chain of amino acids. It therefore has no peptide sequence.
| Property | Description |
| Full name | 5-amino-1-methylquinolinium |
| Compound class | Small molecule with a quinolinium ring system |
| Parent ion formula and weight | C₁₀H₁₁N₂⁺ | 159.21 g/mol |
| Iodide salt formula and weight | C₁₀H₁₁IN₂ | 286.11 g/mol |
| PubChem identifiers | Parent ion CID 950107; iodide salt CID 66522933 |
The parent ion carries a positive charge. In a salt, it is paired with a negatively charged counterion, such as iodide. The counterion changes the formula and molecular weight, so the exact salt form matters when identifying a research material.
Structure of the iodide salt, redrawn from the bond connectivity in PubChem CID 66522933. A 2D diagram shows chemical connections, not a measured 3D shape.
READ: PubChem chemical identity and structure
NNMT is an enzyme: a protein that helps a chemical reaction occur. It transfers a methyl group—a small unit containing one carbon and three hydrogen atoms—to nicotinamide, a form of vitamin B3. The reaction produces 1-methylnicotinamide.
An enzyme inhibitor reduces enzyme activity under the conditions tested. Researchers use 5-Amino-1MQ to investigate how inhibiting NNMT affects cellular chemistry. A result in an enzyme assay or cultured cell does not establish an outcome in people.
READ: NNMT and compound-development research
A key 2017 paper by Neelakantan and colleagues examined a series of synthetic NNMT inhibitors. The authors included researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and the University of Texas at San Antonio.
They compared related chemical structures to investigate how changes in molecular design affected enzyme inhibition. This approach is called a structure–activity relationship study. The paper documents an important stage in 5-Amino-1MQ’s development as a research inhibitor; it does not establish the earliest synthesis date of the chemical itself.
A follow-up paper appeared online in November 2017 and in the January 2018 issue of Biochemical Pharmacology, extending the work to membrane permeability, selectivity, and cellular experiments.
The researchers screened related compounds and identified quinolinium structures as a promising basis for NNMT inhibition. The work helps explain the chemical design behind this research family. Activity in an enzyme assay does not establish clinical effectiveness.
Read the original study in Journal of Medicinal Chemistry
The authors examined membrane permeability and inhibition of NNMT relative to selected other enzymes. In cultured mouse fat cells, the inhibitor series reduced the NNMT reaction product and altered measured cellular metabolites. The paper also included mouse experiments. These findings concern the models tested and do not validate consumer products or human-use claims.
Read the original study in Biochemical Pharmacology
This study developed and validated a method for measuring 5-Amino-1MQ in rat plasma and urine using liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry, abbreviated LC–MS/MS. These techniques separate chemical components and identify them by their mass characteristics. The work supports measurement in those research samples; it does not establish human safety.
Read the original study in Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis
Online descriptions can blur the distinction between a research compound and a dietary supplement. A marketplace listing, capsule format, or supplement-style label does not by itself establish that 5-Amino-1MQ qualifies as a lawful dietary supplement, has FDA approval, or has demonstrated safety and effectiveness in humans.
FDA generally does not approve dietary supplements before they are marketed. Manufacturers remain responsible for meeting applicable requirements, including those concerning ingredients, safety, and labeling. Calling a substance a supplement does not automatically establish that it meets those requirements.
FDA explanation of dietary supplement regulation
5-Amino-1MQ is not an FDA-approved drug. A chemical database entry or substance identifier is an identification record, not an approval or endorsement.
FDA specifically addressed 5-Amino-1MQ iodide in a January 20, 2026 warning letter to GenoGenix, a registered drug-compounding outsourcing facility. FDA stated that products compounded with it did not qualify for section 503B exemptions because the substance was absent from the relevant bulk-substance list and was not used to compound a drug on the shortage list.
That finding concerns a specific compounding framework. It should not be described as a blanket prohibition on possessing or researching the chemical. Equally, an online listing is not evidence that a product is authorized for human use.
FDA warning letter to GenoGenix
The studies discussed here are preclinical: they involve enzyme assays, cultured cells, or animal research rather than evidence establishing a clinical benefit. No published human clinical trial establishing 5-Amino-1MQ’s safety or effectiveness was identified in the literature reviewed for this article.
Enzyme inhibition and membrane permeability are useful research observations, but they do not establish a complete safety profile or predict how a commercial formulation behaves. Results also depend on the experimental system and the exact chemical material studied.
A clear scientific description therefore begins with the molecule’s identity and the evidence available: 5-Amino-1MQ is an experimental small molecule studied as an NNMT inhibitor.
Research and regulatory sources checked October 13, 2026.
DISCLAIMER: These statements are for research purposes only and have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
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