AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleoside, also known as acadesine) is a synthetic cell-permeable nucleoside analog investigated for its role as an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator in preclinical models of cellular energy regulation and metabolic signaling.
Molecular Composition and Mechanistic Profile
Compound identity: AICAR is a synthetic analog of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and an intermediate in purine biosynthesis pathways.
Origin: Cell-permeable ribonucleoside that is phosphorylated intracellularly to ZMP (AICA ribotide).
Mechanistically, AICAR has been associated with:
Conversion to ZMP, which mimics AMP and allosterically activates AMPK, a central regulator of cellular energy homeostasis.
Downstream effects on metabolic pathways including glucose uptake, fatty acid oxidation, and inhibition of energy-consuming biosynthetic processes.
Modulation of cellular stress responses and metabolic adaptation in experimental systems.
These properties make AICAR a widely used tool for probing AMPK-dependent and independent signaling in laboratory research.
Integrated Research Applications
AICAR is studied across metabolic and cellular energy systems. Representative domains include:
Metabolic and energy homeostasis models: Investigation of AMPK activation, substrate utilization, and adaptive responses to energy stress in cultured cells and animal tissues.
Muscle and exercise physiology models: Examination of endurance-related molecular markers, mitochondrial biogenesis signals, and metabolic flexibility in rodent skeletal muscle preparations.
Cellular stress and survival pathways: Studies of adaptive responses under nutrient restriction, hypoxia, or metabolic challenge conditions.
Comparative AMPK research: Use as a pharmacological probe alongside other AMPK modulators to isolate pathway specific effects in controlled experimental settings.
Overall, AICAR serves as a research tool for exploring coordinated energy sensing and metabolic regulation at the cellular and tissue levels.
Analytical Validation, Formulation, and Storage
NextGenPeps supplies AICAR as a high-purity research compound. Typical quality and handling features include:
Purity: ≥99% verified by HPLC.
Formulation: White lyophilized powder in sealed glass vials, intended for reconstitution with appropriate research-grade solvent for experimental use only. No dosing guidance is provided for any organism.
Storage: Keep lyophilized material in a cool, dark, dry environment; long term storage at or below −20 °C. Store reconstituted solutions refrigerated, minimize freeze thaw cycles, and use within laboratory-defined stability windows.
These conditions support structural integrity and reproducible experimental outcomes.
NextGenPeps supplies AICAR as a high-purity research compound intended strictly for controlled laboratory use in vitro or in established animal models, such as murine systems. This compound is not approved as a drug, diagnostic, or dietary ingredient, and is not manufactured, packaged, or marketed for human consumption, self-experimentation, clinical application, or any use outside properly designed and ethically approved research protocols.
