If you have been reading about mitochondrial biogenesis and want a single page that covers the useful parts, this is it: definitions, context, how it is studied, and the questions that come up repeatedly.
Last reviewed on 2026-04-29. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
Analytical identification and purity assessment often use high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection or mass spectrometry. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry is used to detect and quantify SR9009 in biological matrices, including urine and blood, for anti-doping or pharmacokinetic studies. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy can confirm molecular structure. Stability depends on form and storage: the solid is generally more stable than solutions, and repeated freeze–thaw cycles may degrade samples. Purity is typically reported as a percentage from a certificate of analysis.
Regulatory treatment of SR9009 varies by country and context. It is not approved as a therapeutic drug by agencies such as the United States Food and Drug Administration or the European Medicines Agency. Sports authorities list it as a prohibited substance; the World Anti-Doping Agency classifies it among hormone and metabolic modulators. Legal status for personal possession or sale differs across jurisdictions, and some countries may restrict it under analog or research chemical laws. Buyers who seek verified material often rely on independent laboratory testing because online product labels may not match contents.
Laboratory samples of SR9009 are typically handled as research chemicals rather than pharmaceuticals. Suppliers usually state that the material is for research use only and not for human or veterinary administration. Storage recommendations generally call for a freezer at approximately −20 °C, protection from light, and a desiccated environment. The solid is often described as a white to off-white powder. Solubility is commonly reported in organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and ethanol, with low solubility in water.
SR9009 is a synthetic small molecule studied as an agonist of the nuclear receptors REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ. These receptors help regulate circadian rhythms and metabolic gene expression. In laboratory experiments, SR9009 binds these receptors and alters transcription of genes involved in lipid handling, glucose metabolism, and mitochondrial function. It is not a naturally occurring compound and has no approved therapeutic use. Research interest stems from its ability to modify energy metabolism in cells and animal models.
In rodent studies, SR9009 has been reported to increase mitochondrial content in skeletal muscle and improve exercise endurance under some conditions. These findings led to popular descriptions such as an exercise mimetic, although that term oversimplifies the biology. Effects vary by dose, timing, tissue, and model. The compound's influence on circadian pathways means that time of administration can matter in experiments. Whether similar metabolic changes occur in humans remains largely unexplored in controlled published trials.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Common supplier description |
| Solubility | Soluble in DMSO and ethanol | Low solubility in water |
| Typical storage | −20 °C, desiccated, dark | For research samples |
| Analytical method | LC-MS/MS | Used for detection and quantification |
| Regulatory status | Prohibited in sport | WADA metabolic modulator class |
REV-ERB proteins typically suppress gene expression by recruiting corepressor complexes to DNA response elements. SR9009 binds these receptors and strengthens that repressive action in cell-based assays. Studies in rodents have reported changes in lipid handling, mitochondrial function, and exercise capacity after treatment. Such findings are often cited as evidence for metabolic effects, but species differences and limited pharmacokinetic data make direct translation to humans uncertain. Researchers continue to examine which effects are robust and which depend on specific experimental conditions.
SR9009 is frequently discussed alongside other REV-ERB ligands, including synthetic agonists and natural heme-related molecules. Its selectivity for REV-ERB over related nuclear receptors has been measured in binding and reporter assays, though off-target activity at higher concentrations is possible. The compound is prohibited in sport by the World Anti-Doping Agency, and it is not approved for any medical use in major jurisdictions. Products sold online may be labeled as research chemicals, and their identity and purity are not guaranteed by regulatory review.
SR9009 is a synthetic small molecule that acts on the nuclear receptors REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ. These receptors are part of the circadian clock machinery and normally repress transcription of certain target genes. In laboratory research, SR9009 is used as a chemical tool to study how REV-ERB activity influences metabolism, inflammation, and daily biological rhythms. The compound is not an approved medicine, and its effects in humans remain largely uncharacterized. It is often described as an investigational agent rather than a therapeutic product.
Handling recommendations for SR9009 in a laboratory setting include storing the solid at low temperature, protected from light and moisture. The compound is often dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide or ethanol for experiments. Solutions should be prepared with appropriate personal protective equipment and disposed of according to local rules. Stability data for long-term storage are limited, so stock solutions are typically kept cold and used within defined periods. Records of preparation date and concentration support reproducibility.
SR9009 is not approved as a medicine by major regulatory agencies. It is commonly sold as a research chemical, a category that may fall outside customary drug approval and quality rules. In sports, the World Anti-Doping Agency lists SR9009 as a prohibited substance. Athletes who use it can face sanctions if it is detected in a sample. Legal status varies by country, and importation may be restricted. Enforcement practices differ across borders.
Detection of SR9009 in biological samples usually employs liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. This method can identify the parent compound and sometimes metabolites in urine or blood. Because exposure can be low and clearance may be rapid, sample timing and limits of detection matter. Laboratories validate assays for sensitivity and specificity. Results are interpreted alongside chain-of-custody and quality-control records. Urine is the common matrix for anti-doping analysis, while blood may be used in research settings.
Identity and purity testing for SR9009 commonly uses liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. This method separates the compound from matrix components and detects it by mass-to-charge transitions, providing sensitive and specific confirmation. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy can support structural identification, while high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection may estimate purity. Because online products labeled as SR9009 may contain other substances or no active compound at all, independent verification is important in research settings. Certificates of analysis are useful but not a substitute for in-house testing.
Laboratory samples of SR9009 are typically supplied as a white to off-white powder. The compound dissolves readily in organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide and ethanol, while its solubility in water is low. Because of this solubility profile, researchers often prepare concentrated stock solutions in an organic solvent before diluting them into aqueous assay buffers. Light exposure, moisture, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles can degrade many small molecules, so handling procedures usually aim to minimize these factors. Purity is commonly checked before use.
Research interest in SR9009 grew from studies of circadian biology and metabolic disease. Preclinical reports describe effects on exercise capacity, muscle metabolism, and blood lipid levels in rodents, but these findings come from controlled laboratory settings. The compound has low oral bioavailability in animals, which limits systemic exposure after swallowing. Investigators often use injected routes in experiments to achieve measurable plasma concentrations. Human clinical data are sparse, no approved therapeutic product exists, and whether animal effects translate to humans remains an open question.
Regulatory and sporting contexts treat SR9009 as a prohibited substance in many elite competitions. Its presence on banned lists reflects concerns about performance enhancement and unknown long-term safety. Analytical chemists have developed methods to detect the parent compound and its metabolites in urine and blood. Literature discussions distinguish between in vitro potency, animal pharmacology, and anecdotal human reports. The latter are difficult to verify because products sold online may lack purity or contain different compounds.
SR9009 is a synthetic small molecule studied as an agonist of the nuclear receptors REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ. These receptors help regulate circadian rhythms, lipid metabolism, and inflammatory gene expression. In cell and animal experiments, SR9009 alters transcription of clock-controlled genes and metabolic pathways. The compound is not a hormone and does not resemble classical steroid structures. Its activity depends on binding to the ligand-binding domain of REV-ERB, where it can modify corepressor recruitment.
Some of the multiple activities of thymosin β4 unrelated to actin may be mediated by a tetrapeptide enzymically cleaved from its N-terminus, N-acetyl-ser-asp-lys-pro, brand names Seraspenide or Goralatide, best known as an inhibitor of the proliferation of haematopoietic (blood-cell precursor) stem cells of bone marrow.
=== Europe === The 2026 European drug report, published by the European Union Drugs Agency, found that in a one year period prior ot the report being published that approximately 8.7% of all people in Europe aged between 15 to 64 had used cannabis during this period. This figure of 8.7% of all people in Europe is equivalent to around 25 million people. The report also found that for people aged 15 to 34 there was around 15.4 million people or roughly 15.3% who had used cannabis during this same one year period prior to the report being published. As well as this, the report found that 18% of 15 to 24 year olds reported they had used cannabis recently with there being 13% of people aged 15 to 16 who reported having used cannabis at least once in their lifetime. During this same period there was nearly 4.5 million people who reported using cannabis daily or almost daily. The 2026 European drug report also found that an estimated 850,000 people or around 0.3% of the EU adult population used opioids in 2024 with there being 860 000 people using opioids in 2023. The same report also estimated that there were 505 000 people who received opioid agonist treatment for opioid drug addiction in EU Member States in 2024 with there being 511 000 people in 2023.
==== Mass spectrometry ==== Use of mass spectrometry as a second component of an operando experiment allows for optical spectra to be obtained before obtaining a mass spectrum of the analytes. Electrospray ionization allows a wider range of substances to be analysed than other ionization methods, due to its ability to ionize samples without thermal degradation. In 2017, Prof. Frank Crespilho and coworks introduced a new approach to operando DEMS, aiming the enzyme activity evaluation by differential electrochemical mass spectrometry (DEMS). NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) enzymes for ethanol oxidation were investigated by DEMS. The broad mass spectra obtained under bioelectrochemical control and with unprecedented accuracy were used to provide new insight into the enzyme kinetics and mechanisms.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NIH-funded EcoHealth Alliance has been the subject of controversy and increased scrutiny due to its ties to the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV)—which has been at the center of speculation since early 2020 that SARS-CoV-2 may have escaped in a lab incident. Between 2014 and 2019, NIH awarded approximately $3.7 million in grant funding to EcoHealth Alliance, a nonprofit organization focused on global health and infectious disease research. A portion of this funding, around $600,000, was subcontracted to WIV in China as part of a project titled "Understanding the Risk of Bat Coronavirus Emergence." The project aimed to study bat coronaviruses and assess their potential to infect humans. The research at WIV included the creation of chimeric viruses, which combined genetic material from different bat coronaviruses to evaluate their ability to infect human cells. In documents released in 2021, including NIH correspondence with Congress, it was disclosed that one of these modified viruses resulted in an "unexpected outcome," where the virus became more infectious in humanized mice. The NIH maintained that this outcome was not the intended goal of the research and did not violate the terms of the grant, though critics raised concerns about potential gain-of-function research. Under political pressure, the NIH withdrew funding to EcoHealth Alliance in July 2020. In 2023, HHS barred WIV from receiving U.S. government funding for a decade, citing non-compliance with safety and reporting standards.
=== Resolving power definition === Some mass spectrometrists use the definition that is similar to definitions used in some other fields of physics and chemistry. In this case, resolving power is defined as:
The CHMP recommended approval in April 2016, but the FDA rejected the application in November for having insufficient data in November 2016. The drug was authorized in the European Union in May 2016. Germany was the first country where migalastat was launched.
== Biosynthesis == In humans, myo-Inositol is synthesized de novo but D-chiro-inositol is not. myo-Inositol is synthesized from glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) in two steps. First, G6P is isomerised by an inositol-3-phosphate synthase enzyme (for example, ISYNA1) to myo-inositol 1-phosphate, which is then dephosphorylated by an inositol monophosphatase enzyme (for example, IMPA1) to give free myo-inositol. In humans, most inositol is synthesized in the kidneys, followed by testicles, typically in amounts of a few grams per day. At the peripheral level, myo-inositol is converted to D-chiro-inositol by a specific epimerase. Only a minor fraction of myo-inositol is converted into D-chiro-inositol. The activity of this epimerase is insulin dependent, causing a reduction of D-chiro-inositol in muscle, fat, and liver when there is insulin resistance. D-chiro-inositol reduces the conversion of testosterone to estrogen, thereby increases the levels of testosterone and worsening PMOS.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Legality depends on the country and the intended use. In many places it is sold as a research chemical, but sports and medicine regulations restrict it.
Detection commonly uses liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. This method can identify the compound in urine or blood at low concentrations.
Typical guidance is −20 °C, dry, and protected from light. Solutions should be aliquoted and limited freeze–thaw cycles should be used.
It is a synthetic research compound that activates REV-ERB nuclear receptors. It is not an approved drug or dietary supplement. Most information comes from cell and animal studies.