To shop AICAR (Acadesine / 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide) for laboratory investigation, researchers require ultra-pure, verified compounds backed by lot-specific analytical testing. PX1 Research supplies high-purity AICAR (>98% pure by RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry) manufactured in USA-based, GMP-compliant facilities to ensure rigorous reproducibility in metabolic and cellular signaling assays.
To shop AICAR (Acadesine / 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide) for laboratory investigation, researchers require ultra-pure, verified compounds backed by lot-specific analytical testing. PX1 Research supplies high-purity AICAR (>98% pure by RP-HPLC and mass spectrometry) manufactured in USA-based, GMP-compliant facilities to ensure rigorous reproducibility in metabolic and cellular signaling assays.
AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide), also known in scientific literature as Acadesine or ZMP precursor, is an adenosine analog widely utilized in biochemistry and cell biology to investigate cellular energy homeostasis. When introduced into cell culture or tissue preparations, AICAR is taken up by nucleoside transporters and phosphorylated by adenosine kinase into its active intracellular nucleotide form, ZMP (5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide). ZMP acts as an AMP mimetic, binding directly to the gamma subunit of 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) without altering the intracellular ratio of ATP to ADP.
Because AMPK serves as the master metabolic sensor in eukaryotic cells, researchers frequently select AICAR 50mg to stimulate downstream catabolic pathways while inhibiting anabolic processes in vitro. Preclinical studies indicate that activation of AMPK via AICAR triggers glucose uptake, enhances fatty acid oxidation, and regulates mitochondrial biogenesis across various cell lines. Laboratories sourcing this compound through our catalog of research peptides rely on its high chemical purity and predictable solubility to isolate specific metabolic signal transduction cascades.
In cell-free and cell-based assays, AICAR activation of AMPK leads to the phosphorylation of key regulatory enzymes. Notably, AMPK phosphorylates acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) at Ser79, inhibiting its activity and reducing malonyl-CoA levels. This inhibition relieves the block on carnitine palmitoyltransferase-1 (CPT-1), thereby facilitating the transport of long-chain fatty acids into the mitochondria for beta-oxidation. In rodent muscle preparations, in vitro exposure to AICAR demonstrates an increase in GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane, driving glucose uptake independent of insulin signaling pathways.
Furthermore, preclinical research highlights AICAR's involvement in modulating gene expression through transcription factors such as peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α). Extended treatment of murine cell cultures with AICAR has been shown to upregulate mitochondrial enzymes, including cytochrome c and citrate synthase. Researchers exploring these pathways can reference broader literature within the PX1 Research Library to evaluate how AMPK agonists modulate metabolic adaptations in tissue models.
When designing metabolic or mitochondrial research protocols, investigators often evaluate AICAR alongside other small molecules and peptides that target cell energetics. While AICAR functions primarily as a direct intracellular AMP mimetic targeting the AMPK complex, compounds like MOTS-c operate as mitochondrial-derived peptides that translocate to the nucleus during metabolic stress to regulate nuclear gene expression. In contrast, non-peptidic PPAR-delta agonists such as GW501516 target nuclear receptors directly to promote fatty acid gene transcription without relying on immediate nucleotide phosphorylation.
Understanding these mechanistic distinctions is crucial for selecting the appropriate tool for specific experimental models. While AICAR provides rapid, concentration-dependent activation of AMPK within hours of administration in cell culture, peptide regulators like MOTS-c offer insight into retro-grade mitochondrial signaling, and synthetic ligands like GW501516 allow researchers to isolate transcriptional cascades driven by nuclear receptor signaling. For comprehensive evaluations of small-molecule and peptide-based energetic modulators, explore our curated selection of metabolic research compounds.
Analytical rigor is essential when evaluating suppliers to shop AICAR for experimental use. Inferior or impure preparations containing residual synthesis reagents, unexpected salts, or bacterial endotoxins can confound experimental outcomes, induce non-specific cytotoxicity in cell culture, or trigger uncontrolled immune responses in animal models. At PX1 Research, every production batch of AICAR undergoes rigorous third-party analytical testing in an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory facility.
Purity is verified using Reverse-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC), ensuring a purity threshold of >98%. Molecular identity is confirmed via electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), matching exact mass specifications to guarantee the absence of structurally similar impurities or degradation products. Additionally, every lot is subjected to Chromogenic Reagent Kinetic Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) testing to ensure endotoxin levels remain below strictly defined thresholds (<0.05 EU/mg), ensuring reliable performance in sensitive in vitro and preclinical research applications.
AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide) is supplied as a lyophilized, highly crystalline white powder for laboratory research use only. The compound exhibits good solubility in aqueous buffers such as phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.2) at concentrations up to 20 mg/mL, as well as in sterile dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and water for injection or sterile water for cell culture.
To prepare stock solutions for laboratory assays, researchers should reconstitute the lyophilized powder under sterile laminar flow hood conditions using pre-filtered, de-gassed solvents. Gentle vortexing or mild sonication may be applied if necessary. Once dissolved in aqueous solution, stock aliquots should be prepared immediately to avoid repeated freeze-thaw cycles and stored at -20°C or -80°C. Working solutions diluted in cell culture media should be prepared fresh prior to administration in vitro, as nucleotide stability in aqueous media decreases over extended incubation periods at room temperature.
In cell culture models (such as C2C12 myotubes, 3T3-L1 adipocytes, or primary hepatocytes), published literature routinely reports working concentrations of AICAR ranging between 0.1 mM and 2.0 mM, depending on the cell type and target exposure duration. Researchers should perform preliminary dose-response and toxicity screens to establish optimal incubation times and avoid non-specific metabolic toxicity caused by high nucleotide accumulation.
In animal model experiments documented in preclinical literature, AICAR is frequently administered via intraperitoneal (IP) or intravenous (IV) injection in saline vehicles. Investigators must take into account AICAR's short plasma half-life in rodents when establishing dosing intervals for pharmacokinetic or tissue uptake studies. Because ZMP accumulation requires active cellular nucleoside transporters, pharmacological inhibitors of nucleoside transport (such as dipyridamole or nitrobenzylthioinosine) can be utilized in control experiments to confirm that observed biological effects are mediated by intracellular ZMP formation rather than extracellular receptor binding.
PX1 Research maintains a secure, domestic supply chain designed to support academic, biotechnology, and institutional research laboratories. All AICAR provided by PX1 Research is manufactured in USA-based, GMP-compliant facilities following strict quality control protocols. By managing synthesis and analytical verification domestically, we eliminate the supply chain vulnerabilities, purity variability, and regulatory delays associated with unverified overseas sourcing.
Reagents are stored in specialized, climate-controlled cleanroom storage facilities operating at controlled low temperatures to prevent premature moisture absorption or chemical degradation. Orders placed before 3:00 PM EST Monday through Friday are dispatched same-day from our dual fulfillment centers located in California and Arizona. This dual-coast infrastructure minimizes transit times and thermal exposure during shipping, ensuring that your research team receives reagents in optimal condition.
For high-throughput screening, multi-center animal studies, or ongoing academic projects requiring consistent multi-gram quantities of AICAR, PX1 Research provides customized procurement options. Bulk supply agreements guarantee lot continuity, allowing research teams to run multi-phase experiments using a single batch that has been fully characterized and pre-reserved for their project.
Institutional buyers can establish a wholesale laboratory account to access volume pricing, dedicated account management, customized aliquoting services, and direct access to full analytical testing documentation including raw HPLC chromatograms and mass spectra. Contact our scientific support team to discuss custom synthesis, batch reservation, or volume procurement tailored to your laboratory's operational requirements.
What is AICAR and how does it function in laboratory research?
AICAR (5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide) is a cell-permeable nucleoside analog used in research to activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Inside the cell, it is phosphorylated into ZMP, an AMP mimetic that binds AMPK and stimulates metabolic signaling pathways without altering ATP levels.
Is AICAR supplied by PX1 Research suitable for human consumption or clinical use?
No. AICAR supplied by PX1 Research is strictly designated for laboratory research use only, including in vitro cell culture and preclinical animal models. It is not for human or veterinary use, therapy, diagnosis, or clinical application.
How is the purity of PX1 Research AICAR verified?
Every lot of AICAR undergoes third-party analytical testing using Reverse-Phase High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC) to confirm purity >98%, Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (ESI-MS) to verify molecular weight, and LAL assays to ensure endotoxins are below <0.05 EU/mg.
What solvent should be used to reconstitute AICAR for cell culture assays?
AICAR reconstitutes readily in sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, pH 7.2) or sterile cell-culture grade water at concentrations up to 20 mg/mL. For stock solutions requiring higher concentration, sterile DMSO can also be utilized.
How should reconstituted AICAR stock solutions be stored?
Reconstituted aqueous or DMSO stock solutions should be divided into single-use aliquots and stored at -20°C or -80°C to prevent degradation. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles should be avoided to preserve chemical stability.
How does AICAR compare to MOTS-c and GW501516 in metabolic models?
AICAR acts directly as an intracellular AMP mimetic targeting the AMPK enzyme complex. MOTS-c is a mitochondrial-derived peptide regulating nuclear gene expression during stress, while GW501516 is a direct PPAR-delta agonist modulating transcriptional pathways of fatty acid oxidation.
Where does PX1 Research ship AICAR orders from?
Orders are stored in climate-controlled facilities and dispatched same-day (Monday through Friday for orders placed before 3:00 PM EST) from our dual fulfillment centers located in California and Arizona.
Can universities and corporate labs set up wholesale procurement for AICAR?
Yes, academic institutions, biotechnology companies, and contract research organizations (CROs) can apply for a wholesale laboratory account to secure volume discounts, single-lot reservations, and customized aliquoting.
All products are sold strictly for laboratory and research use only. Not for human or veterinary use, diagnosis, treatment or consumption. Statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.