After 72 hours of exposure, aminopterin (4-aminofolate) had an IC50 value of 4.4 nM against CCRF-CEM cells [2]. At low quantities, aminopterin (4-aminofolate) can severely impair human leukemia leukocytes' ability to undergo mitosis [4].

[1]. Aminopterin, a folic acid antagonist, in the treatment of leukemia. Am J Clin Pathol. 1949 Feb;19(2):119-26.

[2]. Synthesis and in vitro antifolate activity of rotationally restricted aminopterin and methotrexate analogues. J Med Chem. 2004 Dec 30;47(27):6958-63.

[3]. The influence of aminopterin on limb regeneration in Ambystoma mexicanum. J Embryol Exp Morphol. 1966 Aug;16(1):143-58.

[4]. THE EFFECT OF 4-AMINO-PTEROYLGLUTAMIC ACID (AMINOPTERIN) ON HUMAN LEUKEMIC LEUKOCYTES IN VITRO. Blood (1950) 5 (2): 161-166.

Aminopterin can cause developmental toxicity and female reproductive toxicity according to an independent committee of scientific and health experts.
Clusters of yellow needles. Used as a rodenticide, medicine and rodenticide. Not registered as a rodenticide in the U.S. (EPA, 1998)
4-aminofolic acid is a dicarboxylic acid. It has a role as a mutagen and an EC 1.5.1.3 (dihydrofolate reductase) inhibitor. It is functionally related to a folic acid.
Aminopterin is an amino derivative of folic acid, which was once used as an antineoplastic agent in the treatment of pediatric leukemia. In the 1950's its production was discontinued in favor of methotrexate, which is less potent but less toxic. Off label, aminopterin has also been used in the treatment of psoriasis. Clinicians need to be aware of the characteristic teratologic effects of aminopterin and methotrexate.
Aminopterin is a synthetic derivative of pterins with antineoplastic and immunosuppressive properties. As a folate analogue, aminopterin competes for the folate binding site of the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase, thereby blocking tetrahydrofolate synthesis, and resulting in depletion of nucleotide precursors and inhibition of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis. (NCI04)
A folic acid derivative used as a rodenticide that has been shown to be teratogenic.

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Drug Indication
Prior to its withdrawal, aminopterin was initially used in the treatment of childhood leukemia; specifically to induce remissions. Later, aminopterin was used off-label in the United States to treat psoriasis, yielding dramatic lesion clearing. Aminopterin was later supplanted by methotrexate for treating cancer because of its better therapeutic index. Aminopterin (as well as methotrexate) has also been explored for use as an abortifacient. However, their association with severe congenital malformations and teratogenic effects have become known as fetal aminopterin syndrome.

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Mechanism of Action
Aminopterin is an amino derivative of folic acid which binds competitively to the dihydrofolate reductase enzyme to block tetrahydrofolate synthesis. Tetrahydrofolate is essential in the production of purines and pyrimadines, thus it's deficiency results in a reduction of DNA, RNA and protein synthesis.
Antagonizes the utilization of folic acid by the body, an antimetabolite.
Aminopterin /was a/ commonly used drug that inhibited digestive-absorptive mechanisms /by/ inhibiting folate transport and cell proliferation. /From table/

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Therapeutic Uses
Formerly used, sometimes as the sodium salt, for the treatment of leukemia in children. /Sodium aminopterin/

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Drug Warnings
Known effects of aminopterin in man that are well documented and conclusive (embryonic development in the first trimester of pregnancy): multiple anomalies, craniofacial anomalies, abortion, intrauterine growth retardation. /From table/

C19H20N8O5

440.4127

440.155

54-62-6

58602-66-7 (sodium);54-62-6 (free acid);

169371

Light yellow to yellow solid powder

1.6±0.1 g/cm3

228-235 °C (dec.)

1.762

-1.21

6

12

9

32

674

1

C1=CC(=CC=C1C(=O)N[C@@H](CCC(=O)O)C(=O)O)NCC2=CN=C3C(=N2)C(=NC(=N3)N)N

TVZGACDUOSZQKY-LBPRGKRZSA-N

InChI=1S/C19H20N8O5/c20-15-14-16(27-19(21)26-15)23-8-11(24-14)7-22-10-3-1-9(2-4-10)17(30)25-12(18(31)32)5-6-13(28)29/h1-4,8,12,22H,5-7H2,(H,25,30)(H,28,29)(H,31,32)(H4,20,21,23,26,27)/t12-/m0/s1

(4-(((2,4-diaminopteridin-6-yl)methyl)amino)benzoyl)-L-glutamic acid

4-amino Folic Acid; 4-amino PGA; NSC-739; NSC 739; NSC739; APGA; BRN 0069045; CCRIS 5856; ENT 26079; BRN0069045; CCRIS5856; ENT26079; BRN-0069045; CCRIS-5856; ENT-26079

2934.99.9001

Powder      -20°C    3 years

                     4°C     2 years

In solvent   -80°C    6 months

                  -20°C    1 month

Room temperature (This product is stable at ambient temperature for a few days during ordinary shipping and time spent in Customs)

DMSO : ~14.71 mg/mL (~33.40 mM)
H2O : ~5 mg/mL (~11.35 mM)

Note: Listed below are some common formulations that may be used to formulate products with low water solubility (e.g. < 1 mg/mL), you may test these formulations using a minute amount of products to avoid loss of samples.

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Injection Formulation 1: DMSO : Tween 80： Saline = 10 : 5 : 85 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO stock solution → 50 μL Tween 80 → 850 μL Saline)
*Preparation of saline: Dissolve 0.9 g of sodium chloride in 100 mL ddH ₂ O to obtain a clear solution.
Injection Formulation 2: DMSO : PEG300 ：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 3: DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL Corn oil)
Example: Take the Injection Formulation 3 (DMSO : Corn oil = 10 : 90) as an example, if 1 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can take 100 μL 25 mg/mL DMSO stock solution and add to 900 μL corn oil, mix well to obtain a clear or suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals).

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Injection Formulation 4: DMSO : 20% SBE-β-CD in saline = 10 : 90 [i.e. 100 μL DMSO → 900 μL (20% SBE-β-CD in saline)]
*Preparation of 20% SBE-β-CD in Saline (4°C，1 week): Dissolve 2 g SBE-β-CD in 10 mL saline to obtain a clear solution.
Injection Formulation 5: 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin : Saline = 50 : 50 (i.e. 500 μL 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin → 500 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 6: DMSO : PEG300 : castor oil : Saline = 5 : 10 : 20 : 65 (i.e. 50 μL DMSO → 100 μLPEG300 → 200 μL castor oil → 650 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 7: Ethanol : Cremophor : Saline = 10： 10 : 80 (i.e. 100 μL Ethanol → 100 μL Cremophor → 800 μL Saline)
Injection Formulation 8: Dissolve in Cremophor/Ethanol (50 : 50), then diluted by Saline
Injection Formulation 9: EtOH : Corn oil = 10 : 90 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 900 μL Corn oil)
Injection Formulation 10: EtOH : PEG300：Tween 80 : Saline = 10 : 40 : 5 : 45 (i.e. 100 μL EtOH → 400 μLPEG300 → 50 μL Tween 80 → 450 μL Saline)

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Oral Formulation 1: Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na (carboxymethylcellulose sodium)
Oral Formulation 2: Suspend in 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Example: Take the Oral Formulation 1 (Suspend in 0.5% CMC Na) as an example, if 100 mL of 2.5 mg/mL working solution is to be prepared, you can first prepare 0.5% CMC Na solution by measuring 0.5 g CMC Na and dissolve it in 100 mL ddH2O to obtain a clear solution; then add 250 mg of the product to 100 mL 0.5% CMC Na solution, to make the suspension solution (2.5 mg/mL, ready for use in animals).

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Oral Formulation 3: Dissolved in PEG400
Oral Formulation 4: Suspend in 0.2% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Oral Formulation 5: Dissolve in 0.25% Tween 80 and 0.5% Carboxymethyl cellulose
Oral Formulation 6: Mixing with food powders

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Note: Please be aware that the above formulations are for reference only. InvivoChem strongly recommends customers to read literature methods/protocols carefully before determining which formulation you should use for in vivo studies, as different compounds have different solubility properties and have to be formulated differently.

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 (Please use freshly prepared in vivo formulations for optimal results.)