Peptide lexicon
AICAR
5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (acadesine), a nucleoside phosphorylated in cells to ZMP that activates AMP-activated protein kinase.
| Substance class | Small Molecule |
|---|---|
| CAS number | 2627-69-2 |
| Molecular formula | C₉H₁₄N₄O₅ |
| Molar mass | 258.23 g/mol |
| Synonyms | Acadesin, 5-Aminoimidazol-4-carboxamid-Ribonukleotid |
| PubChem | CID 17513 |
Structure
AICAR is a nucleoside and therefore not a peptide. Inside cells it is converted to ZMP (AICA ribonucleotide), which mimics AMP and activates AMPK.
Research focus
AICAR has been a standard tool in metabolic research for decades, used to trigger AMPK-dependent processes such as glucose uptake, fatty acid oxidation and mitochondrial biogenesis in cell and animal models. AMPK-independent side effects described in more recent work need to be considered.
Status
There is no marketing authorisation. WADA lists AICAR in category S4 (metabolic modulators).
Literature
- AMPK: The energy sensor at the crossroads of aging and cancerSemin Cancer Biol, 2024 · PMID 39197808 · DOI 10.1016/j.semcancer.2024.08.002
- Autophagy in the physiological endometrium and cancerAutophagy, 2021 · PMID 32401642 · DOI 10.1080/15548627.2020.1752548
- MOTS-c Functionally Prevents Metabolic DisordersMetabolites, 2023 · PMID 36677050 · DOI 10.3390/metabo13010125
- Acadesine during fluid resuscitation from shock and abdominal sepsisCrit Care Med, 1999 · PMID 10199538 · DOI 10.1097/00003246-199903000-00037
- Targeting AMP-activated protein kinase in sepsisFront Endocrinol (Lausanne), 2024 · PMID 39469575 · DOI 10.3389/fendo.2024.1452993
