GRADE & PURITYMoligand™?Moligand™ — Aladdin's line of ligands and bioactive small molecules. Use for receptor, pathway, and binding studies needing defined small-molecule tools.
This compound belongs to the class of organic compounds known as pyrrolidinylpyridines. These are compounds containing a pyrrolidinylpyridine ring system, which consists of a pyrrolidine ring linked to a pyridine ring.
1. Djoumbou Feunang Y, Eisner R, Knox C, Chepelev L, Hastings J, Owen G, Fahy E, Steinbeck C, Subramanian S, Bolton E, Greiner R, and Wishart DS. ClassyFire: Automated Chemical Classification With A Comprehensive, Computable Taxonomy. Journal of Cheminformatics, 2016, 8:61.
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Application Protocols
Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
No validated-use protocols, recommended assay formats, or dilution schemes are provided in the Product Data for this SKU.
Biological Roles
General biochemical context (literature)
Nicotine is a plant-derived alkaloid that functions as an agonist at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), a family of ligand-gated cation channels composed of pentameric combinations of α (e.g., α2–α10) and β (e.g., β2–β4) subunits.
Binding pharmacology: High-affinity interactions are classically observed at α4β2-containing receptors; α7 homopentamers bind with lower affinity but distinct kinetics and desensitization profiles. [³H]nicotine tracks the binding site engagement of the parent ligand across subtypes, subject to labeling position effects (not specified here).
Mechanistic effects: Agonist binding stabilizes open or desensitized channel conformations, modulating Na+/K+/Ca2+ flux. Prolonged exposure favors desensitization and upregulation phenomena in certain systems.
Disposition in biological systems: As a lipophilic, weak base, nicotine partitions based on pH gradients (ion trapping) and can accumulate in acidic compartments; in vitro, pH control affects apparent potency.
Assay implications: For binding/functional studies, buffer composition, temperature, and membrane vs intact-cell formats substantially influence observed KD/Ki values. Careful control of nonspecific binding and receptor state (e.g., presence of allosteric modulators) is essential.
Notes
The above roles are provided for biochemical context only and do not imply any therapeutic or clinical use. For this specific SKU, no target or potency specifications are provided—consult CoA/Spec Sheet for item details.
Buffer Applications
This product is a radiolabeled ligand rather than a buffering agent; it is not typically used to set pH or ionic strength. For experiments using [³H]nicotine, select buffers that maintain receptor integrity and minimize nonspecific binding (general guidance):
Common systems (literature):
HEPES (25–50 mM, pH 7.2–7.6) with NaCl/KCl, Mg²⁺/Ca²⁺ as appropriate for nAChR subtype studies.
Tris-HCl (20–50 mM, pH 7.4) often used for membrane binding with rapid filtration assays; temperature-dependent pKa should be considered.
Additives: 0.05–0.1% BSA to limit surface adsorption; 0.3% PEI pre-soak for glass fiber filters.
Item-specific buffer recommendations, composition, and any supplied matrix are not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
Green Alternatives
Context
The “greenness” concern here is radiological rather than solvent mass. [³H]nicotine enables highly sensitive assays but introduces radioactive waste and radiolysis risks.
Alternatives (literature/general)
Non-radioactive detection:
Fluorescent ligands or fluorescently labeled nicotine analogs—no radioactive waste; enable real-time imaging but may alter pharmacology and often have higher nonspecific binding and lower sensitivity for low-abundance receptors.
Bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) probes with engineered receptors—high specificity, genetically encoded, but require constructs and instrumentation.
Mass spectrometry-based binding/occupancy or thermal shift assays—no radioactivity; may need larger amounts and specialized workflows.
Alternative isotopes:
[¹⁴C]-labeled nicotine: longer path β⁻, easier external monitoring but lower specific activity vs ³H; still generates radioactive waste.
Trade-offs
Sensitivity: ³H LSC detection is extremely sensitive for low-femtomole receptor levels; fluorescent probes may not match this without high background.
Specificity/perturbation: Unmodified [³H]nicotine closely mimics native binding; bulky fluorescent tags can alter subtype selectivity.
EHS profile: Non-radioactive methods reduce regulatory burden and waste streams; they may increase solvent/consumables usage.
Practical guidance
When minimizing radioactive waste is a priority, pilot alternative readouts in parallel with [³H]nicotine to cross-validate affinities and assay windows.
Pharmaceutical Uses
No excipient or pharmacopeial roles are specified for this research reagent. [³H]nicotine is used in R&D settings (binding assays, receptor occupancy studies, autoradiography) and is not intended for human or veterinary use.
Formulation/CMC context (general): Radiolabeled ligands may be employed as reference materials in quality control of receptor-binding assays or for in vitro ADME investigations, but they are not drug substances or excipients.
Regulatory note: Handle exclusively under research-use-only frameworks. Any GMP or pharmacopoeial status is not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet if required by your quality system.
Physical Properties
Item-specific (from Product Data)
Molecular formula: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
Molecular weight: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
Appearance: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
Literature/general values (unlabeled nicotine; for reference only)
Physical state: Colorless to pale yellow oily liquid (free base); forms crystalline salts (e.g., ditartrate).
Boiling point: ~247 °C at 760 mmHg (literature).
Melting point: Free base −79 °C (literature).
Density: ~1.01 g/mL at 20 °C (literature, free base).
LogP (octanol/water): ~1.2 (free base; literature); distribution depends strongly on pH due to two basic centers.
Solubility: Miscible with water and common organic solvents as free base; higher aqueous solubility under acidic conditions due to protonation (literature).
Radiological property (label-wide, literature)
³H (tritium) half-life: 12.32 years; low-energy β⁻ emitter (Emax ≈ 18.6 keV; average ≈ 5.7 keV) with path length in water of a few micrometers. These radiological properties govern shielding and detection requirements for [³H]-labeled compounds.
Quality and Grades
Item-specific (from Product Data)
Grade/Purity: Moligand™.
Radiochemical or chemical purity, specific activity, and stabilizer content: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
What Moligand™ typically implies (general information; verify against the CoA for this SKU)
Intended use: Radioligand-grade small molecule suitable for binding assays, target engagement studies, and high-throughput screening workflows. Emphasis is generally placed on receptor affinity preservation, batch-to-batch consistency, and documentation for research use.
Purity dimensions: For radioligands, quality is assessed along multiple axes—chemical purity of the parent, radiochemical purity (fraction of activity in the desired molecular form), identity of the labeling position, and specific activity (Ci/mmol or Bq/mol). None of these values are specified here; consult the item CoA.
Stabilization and matrix: Radiolabeled amines are sometimes supplied in ethanol/water or acidic aqueous solutions to limit adsorption and radiolysis. For this item, the formulation and any stabilizers are not specified—confirm prior to use.
Practical guidance
Always verify: specific activity, radiochemical purity at receipt, and re-verify prior to critical experiments (e.g., by HPLC with online radio-detection or TLC-LSC) because radiolysis can change composition over time.
Documentation: Use the CoA lot number to track decay-corrected activity and any recommended expiry or requalification intervals.
Reaction and Applications
Focus for this compound type
[³H]nicotine is primarily a radioligand for studying nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs), not a synthetic reagent. The most relevant “applications” are biochemical/biophysical binding assays and autoradiography.
Saturation binding: Determine KD and Bmax for nAChR populations in membranes/cells using [³H]nicotine, typically in the presence of a defined buffer and filtration-based separation. Non-specific binding is measured with an excess of a high-affinity cold ligand.
Competition binding: Quantify affinity (Ki) of unlabeled test ligands at nAChRs by displacement of [³H]nicotine.
Kinetic assays: Measure association/dissociation rates (kon/koff) to dissect subtype-selective interactions.
Autoradiography: Map regional receptor densities in tissue sections.
Practical assay tips (general)
Temperature: Conduct equilibrium binding commonly at 4 °C (to reduce internalization and metabolism in cells) or at 22–25 °C for membranes; maintain consistency.
Filtration: Use GF/B or equivalent filters pre-soaked in 0.3% PEI to reduce non-specific binding; wash rapidly with ice-cold buffer.
Nonspecific binding: Include 0.1% BSA and appropriate ionic strength; validate with >100–1000× unlabeled nicotine or subtype-selective antagonists.
Radiolysis control: Work with fresh dilutions, minimize light/air exposure, and keep activity concentrations appropriate to limit radical chemistry.
Counting: Use liquid scintillation cocktails optimized for ³H; correct for quench and count geometry; include decay correction in data analysis.
Reaction Conditions
Not a synthetic reagent; reaction conditions in the classical organic sense are not typically applicable.
Assay conditions (literature; for context only)
Saturation binding:
Matrix: Membrane preparations from cells or tissues expressing nAChRs.
Buffer: 20–50 mM HEPES or Tris, pH 7.4, 100–150 mM NaCl; 0.1% BSA optional.
Temperature/time: 4–25 °C; 30–120 min to reach equilibrium depending on subtype and membrane density.
Maintain [³H]nicotine near or below KD (sub-nM to low-nM ranges, subtype-dependent; literature) and titrate competitors over 10–11 log units.
Analyze with Cheng–Prusoff correction to obtain Ki from IC50.
Counting: Liquid scintillation with appropriate cocktail; set counting windows for ³H and apply quench correction via external standard channels.
Item-specific validated conditions are not provided for this SKU; consult CoA/Spec Sheet and optimize empirically for your system.
Safety and Handling
Item-specific (from Product Data)
GHS classification / pictograms / H-statements / signal word: Not specified for this item; refer to SDS.
Storage: Room temperature (as supplied).
Research use: For research use only.
General safety considerations (literature/good practice; not product specifications)
Chemical toxicity: Nicotine is acutely toxic and readily absorbed dermally, by inhalation, and by ingestion. Use appropriate PPE: lab coat, double nitrile gloves (change frequently), safety glasses or face shield in splash scenarios. Avoid skin contact and aerosols.
Radiological safety (³H): Low-energy β-emitter. Use acrylic (Plexiglas) or polycarbonate shielding near stock vials to limit Bremsstrahlung in higher-Z surroundings. Employ contamination controls (bench protectors, secondary containment), dedicated pipettes, and routine wipe tests with LSC. Monitor with liquid scintillation counting; hand-held GMs have poor sensitivity for ³H.
Incompatibilities: Strong oxidizers may degrade alkaloids; avoid strong bases/acids that can alter protonation state during handling unless intended. Prevent radiolysis by minimizing exposure to light, air, and reactive impurities; use antioxidants only if validated for your assay (general note).
First aid (summary; defer to SDS): Skin contact—immediately wash with soap and water; remove contaminated clothing. Eye contact—rinse with water for at least 15 minutes. Inhalation—move to fresh air. Ingestion—seek medical attention. For radiological contamination, follow institutional spill and decontamination procedures.
Waste: Collect as mixed hazardous chemical and low-level radioactive waste; segregate ³H according to institutional and regulatory requirements.
Solvent Selection
Item-specific (from Product Data)
Supplied solvent/vehicle: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
Literature-based guidance for nicotine/[³H]nicotine handling (general)
Polarity and ionization: Nicotine is a diprotic base (pKa ~8.0 and ~3.1). Solubility and partitioning depend strongly on pH. The free base is miscible with many organics and moderately with water; protonated forms are highly water-soluble.
Common assay vehicles:
Aqueous buffers (e.g., HEPES, Tris, PBS) adjusted near physiological pH for receptor binding assays; include salt and sometimes 0.1% BSA to reduce nonspecific binding.
Ethanol or DMSO may be used as intermediate stocks; keep final organic content ≤0.1–1% v/v in biological assays to avoid membrane perturbation.
Adsorption minimization: Use low-binding plastics or silanized glass; pre-rinse with buffer containing carrier (e.g., 0.1 mg/mL BSA) when working at sub-nanomolar concentrations.
pH control: For consistent receptor engagement, maintain pH 7.2–7.6 in HEPES (25–50 mM) or Tris buffers; avoid CO2/HCO3− drift if using open containers.
Comparison (literature)
Vehicle choice vs alternatives:
Ethanol: convenient, volatile; can extract plastics—use glass.
DMSO: excellent solvency; may affect receptors above ~0.5%.
Aqueous acidic stock (e.g., 0.01–0.1 M HCl): stabilizes protonated nicotine and limits volatility; verify compatibility with assay components.
Storage and Reconstitution
Item-specific (from Product Data)
Storage conditions: Room temperature.
Shipped in: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
Appearance/vehicle: Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
General guidance for [³H]-labeled small molecules (literature; verify compatibility with your assay)
Minimize radiolysis and adsorption: Store in airtight, light-protected vials with minimal headspace. Amber glass with PTFE-lined caps is preferred. If supplied in volatile solvent, keep containers tightly closed to prevent concentration changes.
Working aliquots: Prepare small, single-use aliquots to reduce freeze–thaw and air exposure. Track decay-corrected activity with date and time.
Temperature: Many ³H ligands are stable at 2–8 °C or −20 °C; however, do not deviate from the labeled storage condition without stability data for this SKU.
Reconstitution: If provided as a film or concentrate, dissolve or dilute using assay-compatible solvent (e.g., ethanol, DMSO, or buffered aqueous acid) and immediately bring to final buffer to minimize nonspecific binding. Exact solvent and concentration are not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
Stability checks: Periodically assess radiochemical purity by radio-HPLC or radio-TLC, especially after prolonged storage.
Key structural features: bicyclic heteroaromatic consisting of a pyridine ring fused via a single bond to a chiral pyrrolidine (N-methylpyrrolidine). One stereocenter at the 2′-position of the pyrrolidine (natural nicotine is (S)-configuration). Two basic nitrogens (pyridine weak base; pyrrolidine strong base).
2D description
A six-membered aromatic pyridine ring para to the C–C bond that links to a five-membered, saturated N-methylpyrrolidine ring. The bridge carbon adjacent to the ring nitrogen is stereogenic in the (S)-enantiomer. Radiolabel ³H is incorporated on a ring or side-chain hydrogen position depending on synthesis route (position not specified for this item).
Synthetic Utility
This compound is not typically used as a synthetic reagent. As a radiolabeled small-molecule agonist, [³H]nicotine serves primarily as a probe rather than a building block.
General chemistry context (literature)
Functional groups: tertiary amine (N-methylpyrrolidine) and pyridine. These confer basicity and nucleophilicity; however, radiolabeled material is usually not subjected to further chemical transformations due to activity loss and safety concerns.
Derivatization: Non-radioactive nicotine can be quaternized, N-oxidized, or acylated under standard conditions; such transformations are rarely pursued on [³H]-material.
Retrosynthesis: The labeled compound is commonly prepared by tritium exchange or catalytic reduction routes targeting defined positions; position of labeling for this SKU is not specified.
Conclusion
For synthetic chemistry workflows, use unlabeled nicotine or tailored analogs. Reserve [³H]nicotine for analytical/biochemical assays where its radiolabel provides sensitivity.
Target Specificity
Not specified for this item; refer to CoA/Spec Sheet.
Note: While nicotine classically binds nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, no item-specific target panel, subtype selectivity, or binding constants are provided for this SKU.
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