AICAR is an adenosine analog that is phosphorylated in whole cells to form 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-D-ribofuranosyl-5′-monophosphate (ZMP), which stimulates AMPK activity1. AICAR acts by entering nucleoside pools, significantly increasing levels of adenosine during periods of ATP breakdown. AICAR mimics the effects of insulin on the expression of two gluconeogenic genes PEPCK and glucose-6-phosphatase2. AICAR inhibits PPARα coactivation3 and adipocyte differentiation4. AICAR is a substrate for the AICAR transformylase activity of ATIC5. AICAR is also known as 5-amino-1-β-D-ribofuranosyl-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide, N1-(β-D-Ribofuranosyl)-5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide, and Acadesine.