6-aminonicotinamide

6-Aminonicotinamide is a synthetic small molecule and an antimetabolite of nicotinamide. It acts primarily as a competitive inhibitor of the NADP+-dependent enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and also inhibits the related enzyme 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase in the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), with reported Ki values around 0.46 μM[1][3][4][5]. By inhibiting these enzymes, it disrupts NADPH production and interferes with glycolysis, leading to ATP depletion in cells[1][2][5]. This metabolic disruption can sensitize cancer cells to DNA-damaging agents such as cisplatin by promoting apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase[1][4]. In research settings, it has been used to study oxidative stress responses and neurodegeneration due to its effects on glial cells[4][5]. Its primary use is as a biochemical tool in laboratory research; it is not approved for clinical use.

Other names

6-aminopyridine-3-carboxamide2-amino-5-carbamoylpyridine3-pyridinecarboxamide, 6-amino-