AICAR

AICAR (acadesine; 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-β-D-ribofuranoside, also called AICA riboside) is a cell-permeable nucleoside analogue related to intermediates of the de novo purine biosynthesis pathway. It is a small molecule, not a peptide.

Inside cells, AICAR is phosphorylated by adenosine kinase to ZMP (AICA ribotide), an AMP mimetic that activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). For this reason it has long been used as a pharmacological AMPK activator in hepatocyte, adipocyte and skeletal-muscle cell studies of fatty-acid and sterol synthesis, glucose uptake and mitochondrial gene expression. ZMP also has well-documented AMPK-independent effects, including on purine and pyrimidine nucleotide metabolism, which have been systematically reviewed and are relevant to experimental design and the choice of controls.

Supplied as a powder in a sealed vial.

For laboratory research use only. Not for human or veterinary use.