NAD+ vs 5-Amino-1MQ: coenzyme and NNMT inhibitor
Updated: October 8, 2026
NAD+ is a coenzyme present in every cell. 5-Amino-1MQ is a small molecule that inhibits the enzyme NNMT, which consumes nicotinamide, a precursor of NAD+. They are studied in the same metabolic network, but they are not equivalent.
What they are
- NAD+: nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, an electron carrier in redox reactions and a substrate for sirtuins, PARPs and CD38.
- 5-Amino-1MQ: a quinolinium derivative that inhibits nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT). It is not a peptide.
How they relate
NNMT methylates nicotinamide using SAM as the donor. Inhibiting it changes nicotinamide availability and the cell’s methylation potential, which is why it is studied in connection with NAD+ metabolism.
Experimental considerations
- Extracellular NAD+ is broken down by ectoenzymes such as CD38 and crosses the membrane poorly, so precursors are also used in culture.
- 5-Amino-1MQ crosses the cell membrane, and its published data come from adipocytes and high-fat-diet mice.
State of the evidence
NAD+ is a widely studied endogenous molecule, with most intervention data from cells and animals. 5-Amino-1MQ has only published preclinical data and no known clinical trials.