Research-use information only. This page summarises published laboratory findings on AICAR. Material supplied by Peptides Lab UK is for laboratory research use only, not for human or veterinary use, and nothing here is medical or dosing advice.
AICAR (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide) is a small-molecule AMPK activator — it mimics AMP inside the cell and directly switches on AMP-activated protein kinase, the master sensor of cellular energy status. Because AMPK activation reproduces much of the metabolic signature of exercise, AICAR is one of the original “exercise mimetic” research compounds. It is a nucleotide analogue, not a peptide.
What AICAR is
AICAR is a naturally occurring intermediate in the purine biosynthesis pathway. As a research tool it is used because, once phosphorylated inside the cell to its active form (ZMP), it mimics AMP and activates AMPK without the cell actually being energy-depleted. This gives researchers a way to switch on AMPK signalling directly.
How AICAR is described to work
AMPK is the cell’s central energy gauge: it is activated when the AMP:ATP ratio rises (energy is low) and, once active, switches cells from energy-storing to energy-producing metabolism. AICAR triggers this state artificially. The literature reports:
- Increased glucose uptake — AMPK activation promotes GLUT4 translocation independently of insulin, a central point of interest in metabolic research.
- Increased fatty acid oxidation — AMPK inhibits fat synthesis and promotes fat burning.
- Mitochondrial biogenesis and endurance phenotype — chronic AMPK activation in muscle drives an oxidative, endurance-type adaptation, which is the basis of the exercise-mimetic description.
AMPK is also the mechanism through which mitochondrial peptides such as MOTS-c act, so the two are frequently studied in parallel — AICAR as a direct pharmacological activator, MOTS-c as an endogenous peptide regulator.
Research context
AICAR’s evidence base is predominantly preclinical. It is notable historically as one of the compounds that established the exercise-mimetic concept, and it is on the World Anti-Doping Agency prohibited list — a fact worth noting because it indicates the compound is taken seriously as a metabolic modulator, while also underlining that its use is confined to legitimate laboratory research. Human data on efficacy and safety remains limited, and its short half-life and dosing requirements have constrained translation.
Where AICAR sits among metabolic compounds
AICAR acts at AMPK — the energy-sensing kinase — which is a different node again from the ERR transcription factors targeted by SLU-PP-332 or the NNMT enzyme inhibited by 5-amino-1MQ. These three compounds are studied together in metabolic research precisely because they intervene at separate, complementary points in energy metabolism.
Handling and dosage as described in the literature
As a nucleotide analogue rather than a peptide, AICAR follows small-molecule handling conventions, and the appropriate solvent depends on the supplied form. Published protocols describe milligram-per-kilogram dosing in animal models, with the short half-life a recognised constraint. These describe research documentation only and are not instructions for human use. Confirm the correct diluent rather than assuming bacteriostatic water.
The UK regulatory position
AICAR is not a licensed medicine in the UK and is not approved for human consumption. Peptides Lab UK supplies it for laboratory research only, correctly labelled. Insist on batch-specific analytical data; our quality-standards SOP sets out the testing applied to every batch.
Frequently asked questions
What is AICAR?
A small-molecule AMPK activator — a nucleotide analogue that mimics AMP inside the cell and switches on AMP-activated protein kinase, the master regulator of cellular energy metabolism.
Is AICAR a peptide?
No. It is a nucleotide analogue, handled by small-molecule conventions despite appearing in research-peptide catalogues.
How does AICAR work?
Once phosphorylated inside the cell, it mimics AMP and activates AMPK, promoting glucose uptake, fatty acid oxidation and, with chronic activation, an endurance-type mitochondrial adaptation.
Why is AICAR called an exercise mimetic?
Because AMPK activation reproduces much of the metabolic signature of exercise. It was one of the compounds that established the concept.
How is AICAR prepared and stored?
By small-molecule conventions; the correct solvent depends on the supplied form. Confirm the appropriate diluent rather than assuming bacteriostatic water.
Is AICAR legal in the UK?
AICAR is not a licensed medicine in the UK and is on the WADA prohibited list. Supply for laboratory research, correctly labelled, is a separate lawful category.
Disclaimer: this content is for educational and research purposes only. AICAR supplied by Peptides Lab UK is not intended for human or veterinary use.
