1. 5-Amino-1MQ (5-amino-1-methylquinolinium)

5-Amino-1MQ is a synthetic compound that belongs to the class of organic compounds called quaternized quinolines. It is primarily studied as an enzyme inhibitor. Specifically, it targets Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT), an enzyme involved in the breakdown of nicotinamide (vitamin B3).

Scientific research explores its potential mechanism in increasing intracellular levels of NAD+. By inhibiting NNMT, researchers investigate whether the breakdown of nicotinamide can be slowed, thereby hypothetically conserving NAD+ levels. The study of 5-Amino-1MQ is entirely experimental and restricted to laboratory research to understand metabolic processes and cellular energy regulation.

MOTS-c (Mitochondrial Open Reading Frame of the 12S rRNA-c)

MOTS-c is a 16-amino-acid peptide that is naturally encoded not by nuclear DNA, but by the mitochondrial genome itself. It was discovered in 2015 and is part of a newly recognized class of peptides known as “mitochondrial-derived peptides” (MDPs).

In scientific studies, MOTS-c is investigated for its potential role in systemic metabolic regulation. It is described as a signaling molecule that may communicate mitochondrial stress to the rest of the body. Most research on MOTS-c is conducted in vitro (cell cultures) or in animal models, exploring its potential function in insulin sensitivity, energy expenditure, and lipid metabolism. It is a research tool for studying aging and metabolic disorders.

NAD+ (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide)

NAD+ is a coenzyme found in all living cells. It is not a peptide or a synthetic inhibitor, but a fundamental molecule essential for life. It exists in two forms in the cell: NAD+, which is the oxidized form, and NADH, which is the reduced form.

Its primary function in biology is as an electron carrier in redox reactions, playing a central role in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle (Krebs cycle), and oxidative phosphorylation, which are the main processes cells use to generate ATP (energy). NAD+ is also a necessary cofactor for enzymes involved in critical non-redox processes, such as sirtuins, which are involved in regulating aging and cell death, and PARPs, which are involved in DNA repair. NAD+ has been extensively studied for decades, and current research explores how its decline in the body relates to aging and metabolic disease.