- ≥98% by HPLC; lot-matched COA available
- Lot-matched certificate of analysis
- Ships next business day, tracked
AICAR
AICA riboside, an AMP-mimetic AMPK activator studied as an exercise-mimetic tool
- FormLyophilized powder, sealed glass vial
- Mol. weight258.23 g/mol
- Research areasAMPK signalling, GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake, fatty-acid oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis, autophagy and mTOR crosstalk
Supplied for laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use, and not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Overview
AICAR is 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside, a nucleoside also written as AICA riboside or acadesine. It is not a peptide: it is a small purine-biosynthesis intermediate analogue with a molecular weight of 258.23 g/mol and the formula C9H14N4O5. Cells take it up through nucleoside transporters, and adenosine kinase phosphorylates it to ZMP, the monophosphate form that structurally mimics AMP.
That mimicry is the reason AICAR became a standard laboratory tool. ZMP binds the γ-subunit of AMP-activated protein kinase and activates the enzyme without the cell actually being energy-depleted, which lets investigators switch on AMPK signalling in a controlled way. Published work has used it to study glucose uptake, fatty-acid oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis and the mTOR axis in muscle, liver and adipose models, and it is widely cited from the rodent endurance experiments that gave the compound its “exercise mimetic” nickname.
Our AICAR is supplied as a lyophilized powder in a sealed vial, with identity and purity assessed by HPLC and a lot-matched Certificate of Analysis available before purchase. It is offered strictly for laboratory research use and is a prohibited substance in sanctioned sport.
Specifications
Identity
- CAS number
- 2627-69-2
- Molecular formula
- C9H14N4O5
- Molecular weight
- 258.23 g/mol
Supply & purity
- Form
- Lyophilized powder, sealed glass vial
- Purity
- ≥98% by HPLC; lot-matched COA available
- Available sizes
- 50 mg, 100 mg
- Solubility
- Soluble in water and aqueous buffers; also soluble in DMSO for concentrated stocks
Handling & storage
- Storage (lyophilized)
- −20 °C, sealed and protected from light and moisture
Additional detail
- Chemical name
- 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside
- Also known as
- AICA riboside, acadesine, AICA-riboside, ZMP precursor
- Compound class
- Purine nucleoside analogue (small molecule, not a peptide)
- Active intracellular species
- ZMP (AICAR 5'-monophosphate), an AMP mimetic
- Molecular target
- AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), γ-subunit allosteric site
- Research areas
- AMPK signalling, GLUT4 translocation and glucose uptake, fatty-acid oxidation, mitochondrial biogenesis, autophagy and mTOR crosstalk
- Storage (in solution)
- 2–8 °C short term; aliquot and freeze for longer study windows
Questions about AICAR
What is AICAR?
AICAR is 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside, a small nucleoside compound also called AICA riboside or acadesine. Inside cells it is converted to ZMP, an AMP analogue that activates AMP-activated protein kinase, which makes it a widely used laboratory tool for AMPK-pathway research.
Is AICAR a peptide?
No. Despite being listed alongside metabolic research peptides, AICAR is a nucleoside small molecule with the formula C9H14N4O5 and a molecular weight of 258.23 g/mol. It has no amino acid sequence and behaves chemically like a nucleoside rather than a peptide.
How is purity verified?
Each lot is tested by HPLC for purity of at least 98% and checked for identity against the expected mass. The lot-matched Certificate of Analysis is available on this page before you order, documenting identity, purity and the full analytical result set.
What sizes are available?
AICAR is supplied in 50 mg and 100 mg lyophilized vials. The 50 mg vial suits pilot concentration-response work in cell culture, while the 100 mg size is generally chosen for larger assay series or repeated tissue-preparation experiments.
How should it be stored and dissolved?
Keep the sealed lyophilized vial at −20 °C, protected from light and moisture. AICAR is water-soluble, so aqueous buffer works for most preparations, with DMSO available for concentrated stocks. Store prepared solutions cold, aliquot them, and record the lot and preparation date.
Is AICAR banned in sport?
Yes. AICAR appears on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list under metabolic modulators, and validated detection methods exist. This listing is not an invitation to use it in sport; the material is supplied for laboratory research only.
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