AICAR
Stocked in 50mg vials at MontanaPep in Great Falls, Montana. Sold for laboratory research use only.
| Size | Catalog no. | Price per vial |
|---|---|---|
| 50mg vials | AR50 | $45 |
Classification
Nucleoside analogue small molecule (NOT a peptide); failed clinical development as acadesine
Structure and chemistry
AICAR is 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside, also called AICA riboside or acadesine. Molecular formula C9H14N4O5, molecular weight approximately 258 daltons. It is a nucleoside — a purine-like base attached to a ribose sugar — not a peptide, and it contains no amino acids. It occurs naturally as an intermediate in the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway.
What the published research shows
AICAR has an unusual double history: a rigorous mechanistic and preclinical literature, and a long, largely unsuccessful clinical development record under the name acadesine. It was studied in Phase 3 cardiovascular trials in the 1990s (particularly for myocardial protection during coronary artery bypass surgery) and in Phase I/II oncology trials in the 2000s. None of these programs resulted in regulatory approval anywhere.
Mechanism of action
AICAR enters cells and is phosphorylated to ZMP, an analogue of AMP. ZMP mimics the accumulation of AMP that occurs when cellular energy is depleted, allosterically activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) — the cell’s energy sensor. Activated AMPK shifts metabolism toward ATP production: increased fatty-acid oxidation, insulin-independent GLUT4-mediated glucose uptake, and mitochondrial biogenesis via PGC-1-alpha. In essence it chemically counterfeits the energy-depleted state that exercise produces.
Development history
AICAR was not created as a performance compound. It was investigated from the 1980s onward, under the name acadesine, as a cardioprotective agent intended to preserve myocardial tissue during ischemia and cardiac surgery, with extensive supporting work in canine and rat heart models.
Current regulatory status
AICAR has no FDA-approved indication and no completed human trial demonstrating metabolic efficacy. Validated analytical methods for detecting it are well established. Note the mechanistic link to another catalog item: MOTS-c works substantially by raising endogenous AICAR levels, so the two are not independent mechanisms.
Analytical testing
This is a small molecule, so peptide-oriented testing is the wrong approach. Identity and purity should be established by LC-MS and, ideally, NMR against a certified reference standard. A COA reporting “HPLC peptide purity” for AICAR indicates an inappropriate analytical method has been used.
Ordering from Great Falls
MontanaPep, also known as Montana Peptides, is an independently owned supplier based at 715 13th Ave S, Great Falls, Montana. Local pickup is available by arrangement, and we ship to research addresses across Montana including Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Helena, Butte, Kalispell and Havre. Call (406) 799-0812 or email customerservice@montanapep.com.