adenosine regulating agents
Acadesine is the prototype of a new class of compounds termed adenosine regulating agents. Acadesine is a purine nucleosid analogue that enters the myocyte and is immediately phosphorylated to ZMP (AICA ribotide), which is further metabolised to Inosine mono-phosphate (an intermediate in the synthesis ofadenosine triphosphate (ATP) and guanosine triphos-phate).
Claims that acadesine may serve as a substrate for ATP synthesis and result in repletion of myocardial ATP were supported by some studies and refuted by others. Because acadesine may be a precursor in the synthesis of myocardial ATP it was proposed as a possible agent of myocardial protection during ischaemia, particularly because myocardial ATP depletion has been linked to cell death.
AICAR (2627-69-2) activates AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Promotes ligand-independent activation of the insulin receptor.1 Promotes skeletal muscle autophagy via activation of FoxO3a.2 Controls smooth muscle cell hyperproliferation in vascular disease.3 Induces osteogenic differentiation in mesenchymal stem cells.4 Inhibits proinflammatory response in glial cells.5 Cell permeable.
5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-beta-D-ribofuranoside is used as a cell permeable activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a metabolic master regulator that is activated in times of reduced energy availability (high cellular AMP:ATP ratios) and serves to inhibit anabolic processes. In vivo, pharmacologic activation of AMPK with AICAR mimics exercise and triggers insulin-independent glucose uptake by skeletal muscle.
glucose uptake stimulant; AMPK activator
AICAR is a nucleoside analogue that is able to enter nucleoside pools and is able to significantly increase levels of adenosine during periods of ATP breakdown. Adenosine-regulating agents (ARAs) hav
e been recognized for therapeutic potential in myocardial ischemia. Cardioprotective.
ChEBI: A 1-ribosylimidazolecarboxamide in which the carboxamide group is situated at position 4 of the imidazole ring, which is further substituted at position 5 by an amino group. A purine nucleoside analogue and activator of AMP-activated protein kinase, it is
is used for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is reported to have cardioprotective effects.
Adenosine 3', 5'-cyclic phosphate N'-oxide (76.0 g, 0.200 mole) as the dihydrate was dissolved in a solution of 400 ml DMSO and 31.0 g (0.204
mole) 1,5-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-5-ene. The solution was cooled to 15°C
and 40 ml methyl iodide was added with stirring at room temperature. After
30 min, the mixture had gelled; 1.5 L ethanol was added and the solid was
thoroughly homogenized by vigorous stirring. The solid was filtered, and the
resulting paste was resuspended in 2 L ethanol and homogenized. The product
was again filtered, washed with ethanol and ether, and dried, giving 80.4 g of
1-methoxyadenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate suitable for further transformation
(recrystallization from aqueous methanol with ether).
A solution of 30.0 g 1-methoxyadenosine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate (81.5 mmole),
20.0 g NaHCO3 (238 mmole), and 300 ml H2O was refluxed 45 mm. The pH
of the solution was adjusted to 2.5 with Dowex 50x8 (H)+ while warm, and a
water pump vacuum was applied to mixture to remove CO2. The pH was
readjusted to 9-10 with NaOH, and the resin was removed by filtration. The
solution was passed onto a column containing 400 ml Dowex 1x2 (formate,
100-200 mesh), and the column was washed well with water. The column was
eluted with a gradient of 4 L water in the mixing chamber and 4 L 4 N formic
acid in the reservoir. The first major product, coming after about 2 L eluate,
was 5-amino-N-methoxy-1-β-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamidine 3',5'-
cyclic phosphate, giving 5.4 g (19%) after evaporation of the solvent and
trituration of the residue with ethanol (recrystallization from water).
A solution of 5.0 g (14.3 mmoles) 5-amino-N-methoxy-1-β-Dribofuranosylimidazole-
4-carboxamidine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate in 200 ml H2
preheated to 60°C and containing approximately 5.0 g moist sponge nickel
catalyst, was shaken with 2-3 atm. H2 at 60°C for 2 h. The filtered solution
was evaporated to dryness to give 3.75 g of 5-amino-1-β-Dribofuranosylimidazole-
4-carboxamidine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate (82%),
(recrystallization from water).
A mixture of 4.0 g (12.5 mmole) 5-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-
carboxamidine 3',5'-cyclic phosphate and 100 ml conc. NH4OH was heated in
a bomb at 100°C for 16 h, then cooled and evaporated in vacuum. The
residue was taken up in 100 ml H2O and applied to a 2.5x20 cm column of
Dowex 1x2 (formate form, 100-200 mesh). After washing well with H2O the
column was eluted with a gradient of 1 L H2O in the mixing chamber and 1 L
3 N formic acid in the reservoir. Fractions containing the product, appearing
near the end of the elution, were evaporated. Trituration of the residue with
EtOH gave 2.90 g (68%) of 5-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-
carboxamide 3',5'-cyclic phosphate.
The 5-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide may be produced
by hydrolysis of 5-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide 3',5'-
cyclic phosphate with NaOH.
Cardiotonic, Platelet aggregation inhibitor
The first direct AMPK activator, 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide riboside (AICAR), is an adenosine analog taken up into cells by adenosine transporters and phosphorylated by adenosine kinase, thus generating the AMP-mimetic, AICAR monophosphate (ZMP). Similarly to cellular AMP, ZMP binds to site 3 on the AMPKγ subunit. Although ZMP is a much less potent AMPK activator than AMP in cell-free systems, AICAR directly activates AMPK in most cells because ZMP can accumulate to millimolar concentrations in cells. AICAR is able to activate many other AMP-dependent enzymes, such as fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase.
Adenosine monophosphateprotein kinase (AMPK) activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamideribonucleotide(AICAR)modulates cellular energy. It regulates lipid and glucose metabolism, pro-inflammatory responses,cytokine production,cell proliferation and apoptosis. AICAR improves ischemia or reperfusion injury and kidney fibrosis in rats. It provides protection against acute tubular necrosis.
Cell-permeable, allosteric activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Augments proliferation, differentiation and mineralization of osteoblastic MC3T3-EI cells and attenuates psychosine-induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines and iNOS in astrocytes.
AICAR is a cell permeable activator of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a metabolic master regulator that is activated in times of reduced energy availability (high cellular AMP:ATP ratios) and serves to inhibit anabolic processes. In vivo, pharmacologic activation of AMPK with AICAR mimics exercise and triggers insulin-independent glucose uptake by skeletal muscle.
AICAR is an AMPK (adenosine 5′-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase) activator that has been shown to have significant endurance-enhancing effects and is banned for use as a doping agent by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Overactivation of AMPK, or activation in the wrong tissues, can lead to serious side effects, including neurodegeneration or preventing cell division. Accumulation of naturally occurring AICAR in the body has also been linked to metabolic disorders in humans. However, AICAR has not been approved for human treatment and cannot be used as a drug. Therefore, its safety has yet to be verified.
Clinical claims and research
AICAR has proved in vivo anti-tumor effects in xenograft models. It is currently under clinical trial phase I/II to treat patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and has shown good safety and tolerability properties, although some side effects have been reported.
AICAR is an adenosine analog taken up by muscle and phosphorylated to form 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1--D-ribofuranosyl-5'-monophosphate, which stimulates AMPK activity and glucose transport in skeletal muscle. AICAR has been used in studies measuring glucose uptake, diabetes and insulin resistance, and energy regulation during exercise. AICAR acts by entering nucleoside pools and significantly increasing levels of adenosine during periods of ATP breakdown.
[1] I CHOPRA. Phosphorylation of the insulin receptor by AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) promotes ligand-independent activation of the insulin signalling pathway in rodent muscle.[J]. Diabetologia, 2012, 55 3: 783-794. DOI:
10.1007/s00125-011-2407-y[2] ANTHONY MJ SANCHEZ. AMPK promotes skeletal muscle autophagy through activation of forkhead FoxO3a and interaction with Ulk1†‡[J]. Journal of cellular biochemistry, 2011, 113 2: 695-710. DOI:
10.1002/jcb.23399[3] FERRI N. AMP-activated protein kinase and the control of smooth muscle cell hyperproliferation in vascular disease[J]. Vascular pharmacology, 2012, 56 1: Pages 9-13. DOI:
10.1016/j.vph.2011.10.003[4] WEI WU. AICAR, a small chemical molecule, primes osteogenic differentiation of adult mesenchymal stem cells.[J]. International Journal of Artificial Organs, 2011, 34 12: 1128-1136. DOI:
10.5301/ijao.5000007[5] SHAILENDRA GIRI. 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-beta-4-ribofuranoside inhibits proinflammatory response in glial cells: a possible role of AMP-activated protein kinase.[J]. Journal of Neuroscience, 2004, 24 2: 479-487. DOI:
10.1523/jneurosci.4288-03.2004
