MOLECULE

AICAR

AICAR, also known as Z-nucleotide or ZMP, belongs to the class of organic compounds known as 1-ribosyl-imidazolecarboxamides. These are organic compounds containing the imidazole ring linked to a ribose ring through a 1-2 bond. AICAR is a strong basic compound (based on its pKa). AICAR exists in all living species, ranging from bacteria to humans. Within humans, AICAR participates in a number of enzymatic reactions. In particular, fumaric acid and AICAR can be biosynthesized from SAICAR; which is catalyzed by the enzyme adenylosuccinate lyase. In addition, 10-formyltetrahydrofolate and AICAR can be converted into tetrahydrofolic acid and phosphoribosyl formamidocarboxamide; which is mediated by the enzyme bifunctional purine biosynthesis protein purh. In humans, AICAR is involved in the metabolic disorder called the purine nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency pathway. Outside of the human body, AICAR has been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as cardoons, chayotes, almonds, buffalo currants, and rambutans. This could make AICAR a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods. AICAR has been used clinically to treat and protect against cardiac ischemic injury. The drug was first used in the 1980s as a method to preserve blood flow to the heart during surgery and is currently of interest as a potential treatment for diabetes by increasing the metabolic activity of tissues by changing the physical composition of muscle. 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide is an intermediate in the generation of inosine monophosphate and analog of adenosine monophosphate (AMP) that is capable of stimulating AMP-dependent protein kinase (AMPK) activity. AICAR is expected to be in Cannabis as all living plants are known to produce and metabolize it.