This is a working overview of REV-ERB agonist, written for readers who want more than a one-paragraph summary but less than a textbook.
Reviewed 2026-03-24. Anything still debated is marked as such rather than presented as settled.
SR9009 is a synthetic small molecule studied as a REV-ERB agonist. REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ are nuclear receptors that help regulate circadian rhythms and metabolic gene expression. The compound was identified in academic screening efforts to find synthetic ligands for these receptors. In cell and animal studies, SR9009 alters transcription of genes involved in lipid and glucose metabolism, and it can shift circadian behavior. It is not an approved therapeutic agent.
Mechanistically, SR9009 binds the ligand-binding domain of REV-ERBα/β and enhances recruitment of corepressor complexes. This represses target genes rather than activating them. Because REV-ERB proteins normally compete with ROR proteins at shared response elements, the net effect depends on tissue and timing. Researchers use SR9009 to probe how nuclear receptor signaling links the clock to metabolism, inflammation, and muscle biology. Findings are largely preclinical, and the precise contribution of each receptor subtype remains under study.
SR9009 is frequently discussed in fitness and research-chemical contexts, yet it has no approved medical indication. Regulatory agencies have not authorized it for human use, and it is not a standard prescription drug. Some sports organizations list it as a prohibited substance because of its potential performance-enhancing properties. Published human data are sparse, so claims about its effects in people often rely on animal models or anecdotal reports. Quality and identity of online materials can vary widely.
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.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical class | Synthetic REV-ERB agonist | Small-molecule ligand; not a hormone or peptide |
| Molecular formula | C20H24ClN3O4S | Reported for the free base |
| CAS Registry Number | 1379686-30-2 | Unique chemical identifier |
| Common synonyms | SR9009; stenabolic | Stenabolic is informal and not an official name |
| Reported targets | REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ | Nuclear receptors linked to circadian and metabolic regulation |
Detection of SR9009 in biological samples usually relies on liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. This approach separates the compound from matrix components and identifies it by mass transitions. Because SR9009 can undergo metabolism, laboratories often look for both parent drug and specific metabolites. Sample preparation may involve protein precipitation or solid-phase extraction. Method validation examines sensitivity, carryover, and interference from related substances, and reference standards are required for accurate calibration.
Storage recommendations for SR9009 reference material typically specify a freezer at -20 °C or lower, with protection from moisture and light. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles can degrade small molecules and introduce variability. Stock solutions in dimethyl sulfoxide are often aliquoted to avoid repeated handling. Stability studies may examine degradation under heat, humidity, and light exposure. The compound's thiophene and nitro groups can participate in reactions that alter analytical signals over time, so such changes affect quantitative results.
Quality control for research materials includes identity confirmation by nuclear magnetic resonance and purity assessment by high-performance liquid chromatography. Mass spectrometry provides molecular weight confirmation and can detect related impurities. Purchasers should request a certificate of analysis that lists lot-specific data. Online products advertised for human use often lack such documentation. Distinguishing legitimate research material from mislabeled or contaminated samples is a recurring challenge in independent testing, and independent laboratories may use orthogonal methods to verify identity.
Several types of cells support an action potential, such as plant cells, muscle cells, and the specialized cells of the heart (in which occurs the cardiac action potential). However, the main excitable cell is the neuron, which also has the simplest mechanism for the action potential. Neurons are electrically excitable cells composed, in general, of one or more dendrites, a single soma, a single axon and one or more axon terminals. Dendrites are cellular projections whose primary function is to receive synaptic signals. Their protrusions, known as dendritic spines, are designed to capture the neurotransmitters released by the presynaptic neuron. They have a high concentration of ligand-gated ion channels. These spines have a thin neck connecting a bulbous protrusion to the dendrite. This ensures that changes occurring inside the spine are less likely to affect the neighboring spines. The dendritic spine can, with rare exception (see LTP), act as an independent unit. The dendrites extend from the soma, which houses the nucleus, and many of the "normal" eukaryotic organelles. Unlike the spines, the surface of the soma is populated by voltage activated ion channels. These channels help transmit the signals generated by the dendrites. Emerging out from the soma is the axon hillock. This region is characterized by having a very high concentration of voltage-activated sodium channels. In general, it is considered to be the spike initiation zone for action potentials, i.e. the trigger zone. Multiple signals generated at the spines, and transmitted by the soma all converge here.
China's efforts under Xi has been for the European Union (EU) to stay in a neutral position in their contest with the U.S. China and the EU announced the Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) in 2020, although the deal was later frozen due to mutual sanctions over Xinjiang. Xi has cultivated stronger relations with Russia, particularly in the wake of the Ukraine crisis of 2014. Following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and during the Russo-Ukrainian war, Xi expressed opposition to sanctions against Russia and asserted China's support for Russia on issues of sovereignty and security, but also said China is committed to respecting "the territorial integrity of all countries", while China has cast itself as a neutral party. Xi's stance during the war has been criticized by Ukraine and several Western governments, which argued that China's support for Russia and its defense industrial base was inconsistent with its stated neutrality.
Projects Accomplished: Detectability of Corticosteroid in various Indian preparations: Effect on Endogenous steroid profile. Characteristics of IEF Patterns and SDS-PAGE Result of Indian EPO Biosimilars. Establishing Reference Range for Endogenous Steroids in Indian Sportspersons and to study the effect of ethnicity and steroid abuse on delta values of endogenous steroids. Analytical strategies in the development and utilization of mass spectrometric method for analysis of Stimulants & Narcotics. Effect of Ethnicity and Anabolic Steroid Abuse on Delta Value of Endogenous Steroids. Rapid Screening in Doping Analysis: Separation and Detection of Doping Agents be Liquid and Gas Chromatographic Mass Spectrometric Analysis. Current Projects: Detection of Synthetic glucocortico steroids, stimulants and anabolic steroids in Indian herbal drugs and supplements. Discrimination of biological and synthetic origin of anabolic steroids in human urine: Correlation between GCMSD & Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry. An Analytical approach for the Screening of Performance Enhancing Substances from various Dietary Supplements & to study their excretion profile using Chromatographic-Mass Spectrometric Technique. Development of analytical tools for the Detection and Identification of performance enhancing Peptides in Biological Specimen. An analytical approach for the Detection of Corticosteroids in Human and Horse Biological Specimen using Chromatographic and Mass Spectrometric Technique.
===== Reactions ===== WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom, who was not directly involved with the investigation, said he was ready to dispatch additional missions involving specialist experts and that further research was required. He said in a statement, "Some explanations may be more probable than others, but for now all possibilities remain on the table." He also said, "We have not yet found the source of the virus, and we must continue to follow the science and leave no stone unturned as we do." Tedros called on China to provide "more timely and comprehensive data sharing" as part of future investigations. News outlets noted that, though it was unrealistic to expect quick and huge results from the report, it "offered few clear-cut conclusions regarding the start of the pandemic", "failed to audit the Chinese official position at some parts of the report", and was "biased according to critics". Other scientists praised how the report details the pathways that can shed light on the origin, if explored later. After the publication of the report, politicians, talk show hosts, journalists, and some scientists advanced unsupported claims that SARS-CoV-2 may have come from the WIV. In the United States, calls to investigate a laboratory leak reached "fever pitch", fueling aggressive rhetoric resulting in antipathy towards people of Asian ancestry, and the bullying of scientists. The European Union, United States, and 13 other countries criticised the WHO-convened study, calling for transparency from China and access to the raw data and original samples.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Other studies == Lung cancer - Life Length is working on developing an algorithm to detect patients at risk for lung cancer. With its telomere measurement platform, the test could potentially fill the gap in lung cancer screening techniques in a routine, minimally invasive, and low-cost way. Life Length was the European Seal of Excellence by the European Commission for its project proposal in lung cancer research. Childhood cancer - Life Length has conducted the largest childhood cancer research project to date, obtaining samples from about 100 children with cancer and healthy children. The aim of the study was to help oncology and hematology specialists make better decisions and increase the chances of these children beating cancer. Life Length has carried out these studies with the support of one of the most important children's hospitals in Spain, the Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús.
==== Antibody–based methods ==== The antibody based methods use designed antibodies to bind to proteins of interest, allowing the relative abundance of multiple individual targets to be identified by one of several different techniques. Imaging: Antibodies can be bound to fluorescent molecules such as quantum dots or tagged with organic fluorophores for detection by fluorescence microscopy. Since different colored quantum dots or unique fluorophores are attached to each antibody it is possible to identify multiple different proteins in a single cell. Quantum dots can be washed off of the antibodies without damaging the sample, making it possible to do multiple rounds of protein quantification using this method on the same sample. For the methods based on organic fluorophores, the fluorescent tags are attached by a reversible linkage such as a DNA-hybrid (that can be melted/dissociated under low-salt conditions) or chemically inactivated, allowing multiple cycles of analysis, with 3-5 targets quantified per cycle. These approaches have been used for quantifying protein abundance in patient biopsy samples (e.g. cancer) to map variable protein expression in tissues and/or tumors, and to measure changes in protein expression and cell signaling in response to cancer treatment. Mass Cytometry: rare metal isotopes, not normally found in cells or tissues, can be attached to the individual antibodies and detected by mass spectrometry for simultaneous and sensitive identification of proteins.
== Adverse effects == Most side effects are direct consequences of the vasodilation and the resultant low blood pressure. They include headache ("nitrate headache") resulting from the widening of blood vessels in the brain, reflex tachycardia (fast heart rate), flush, dizziness, nausea and vomiting. These effects usually subside after a few days if the treatment is continued. Occasionally, severe hypotension occurs shortly after beginning of treatment, possibly resulting in intensified angina symptoms or syncope, sometimes with bradycardia (slow heart rate).
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== ERAP1 catalytic site inhibitors === Phosphinic derivatives The first generation of ERAP1 inhibitors is a series of phosphinic pseudopeptides derived from a rational design approach targeting the catalytic zinc-binding site, in 20131. Notably, DG013A (Table 1, Figure 3) displayed high potency (ERAP1 IC50 = 33 nM) but poor selectivity against ERAP2 and IRAP, with reported SAR optimization studies demonstrating the importance of side chains at positions P1' and P2'. A high-resolution crystal structure of phosphinic analogue DG046 bound in the active site of ERAP1, has been obtained (Figure 4).
== Alcohol and beta blockers == Alcohol, more precisely ethanol, is a colorless flammable liquid that is the intoxicating agent in fermented and distilled liquors. Beta blockers are any of a group of drugs that decrease the rate and force of heart contractions and lower high blood pressure. Beta blockers help athletes in sports such as rifle shooting or archery where nervousness can harm performance, and they are only banned in these sports. Examples beta blockers are atenolol, metoprolol, nadolol, pindolol, propranolol, and timolol.
Chart of the Nuclides 2014 (Japan Atomic Energy Agency) Interactive Chart of Nuclides (Brookhaven National Laboratory) Karlsruhe Nuclide Chart – New 10th edition 2018 Nucleonica web driven nuclear science IAEA Live Chart of Nuclides app for mobiles: Android or Apple – for PC use The Live Chart of Nuclides - IAEA The Colourful Nuclide Chart, by Edward Simpson of Australian National University Nuclide chart (EnergyEducation.ca) Another example of a Chart of Nuclides from Korea Data up to Jan 1999 only
==== Pregnancy ==== During pregnancy, the ductal systems undergo rapid proliferation and form alveolar structures within the branches to be used for milk production. After delivery, lactation occurs within the mammary gland; lactation involves the secretion of milk by the luminal cells in the alveoli. Contraction of the myoepithelial cells surrounding the alveoli will cause the milk to be ejected through the ducts and into the nipple for the nursing infant. Upon weaning of the infant, lactation stops and the mammary gland turns in on itself, a process called involution. This process involves the controlled collapse of mammary epithelial cells where cells begin apoptosis in a controlled manner, reverting the mammary gland back to a pubertal state.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
SR9009 is a synthetic compound investigated as an agonist of the nuclear receptors REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ. It is used in preclinical research on circadian rhythm and metabolism. It is not an approved drug.
No. It has no approved medical indication, and human safety and efficacy data are limited. It appears in research chemical markets and is banned by some sports authorities.
Natural ligands include heme and certain metabolites; SR9009 is a synthetic small molecule with higher potency and selectivity in some assays. Its effects depend on cell type and timing. It is not a naturally occurring compound.
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.