What Is ATX-304?
Short answer: ATX-304 is the research code for O-304, a small-molecule AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator. PubChem CID 50923806 lists formula C16H11Cl2N3O2S, molecular weight 380.2 g/mol, and depositor synonym CAS 1261289-04-6. To buy ATX-304 as a documented research format, see the product page.
What is ATX-304, chemically speaking?
Direct answer: O-304 is a dichlorinated benzamide linked to a 1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl ring — a non-nucleoside chemotype, not a peptide and not AICAR. PubChem records the IUPAC name 4-chloro-N-[2-[(4-chlorophenyl)methyl]-3-oxo-1,2,4-thiadiazol-5-yl]benzamide and InChIKey WEDWLYRQKUTOAX-UHFFFAOYSA-N.

Is ATX-304 a peptide or a nucleoside?
Direct answer: No. ATX-304 / O-304 is a small molecule. It contains no amino-acid polymer backbone and is not a nucleoside analog like AICAR. Confusing it with peptides or with AICAR mixes unrelated chemotypes that happen to sit in the same AMPK research niche.
How does O-304 relate to AMPK?
Direct answer: Peer-reviewed papers describe ATX-304 / O-304 as an AMPK activator used in metabolic biochemistry studies (PMID 40197369; PMID 38749175). AMPK is a heterotrimeric energy-sensing kinase; activator tools are used to probe that pathway in controlled assays. Interpretation: treat “pan-AMPK activator” as the design class reported in those papers, and take any EC50 or isoform-selectivity numbers only from the assay table of the cited source — not from marketing copy.
Published numbers at a glance
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CAS (depositor synonym) | 1261289-04-6 | PubChem |
| Formula | C16H11Cl2N3O2S | PubChem |
| Molecular weight | 380.2 g/mol | PubChem |
| InChIKey | WEDWLYRQKUTOAX-UHFFFAOYSA-N | PubChem |
| Design class | Non-nucleoside AMPK activator | PMID 40197369; 38749175 |
What this tells us: ATX-304 is a compact chlorinated heterocycle with a defined PubChem record. Identity claims should start from CAS, InChIKey and CID before any pathway story.
ATX-304 vs AICAR: what’s the actual difference?
Direct answer: Both are used as AMPK-pathway tools, but the structures differ. AICAR is a nucleoside analog that is converted to ZMP inside cells; O-304 is a thiadiazolone benzamide that does not share that nucleoside scaffold. Comparing “activator potency” across papers without matching assay conditions is not valid chemistry.
What formats is ATX-304 supplied in for research?
All applicable tests are performed on our products. See the ATX-304 (O-304) product page Certificate of Analysis tab when certificates are posted, and COA Search for lot lookup. No fill amounts are restated here.
Where ATX-304 sits among related tools
Related references: BAM15 (mitochondrial uncoupler), cardarine (PPAR-δ), and the SR-9009 (stenabolic) Rev-Erb companion post.
Frequently asked questions
What is ATX-304 (O-304)?
ATX-304 is the research code for O-304, a small-molecule AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator. PubChem CID 50923806 lists formula C16H11Cl2N3O2S, molecular weight 380.2 g/mol, and depositor synonym CAS 1261289-04-6.
Is ATX-304 a peptide?
No. ATX-304 / O-304 is a dichlorinated benzamide–thiadiazolone small molecule, not an amino-acid polymer.
How does O-304 relate to AMPK?
Primary research papers describe ATX-304 / O-304 as an AMPK activator used in metabolic biochemistry studies (PMID 40197369; PMID 38749175). Quantitative EC50 or isoform panels should be taken from each paper assay table.
How does ATX-304 differ from AICAR?
AICAR is a nucleoside analog AMPK activator classically used as a prodrug of ZMP. O-304 is a distinct non-nucleoside chemotype (thiadiazolone benzamide). They share an AMPK-pathway research niche, not the same structure.
How is ATX-304 verified at Modern Aminos?
All applicable tests are performed on our products. Certificates appear in the Certificate of Analysis tab when posted; use COA Search for lot lookup.
References
- Primary literature describing ATX-304 / O-304 as an AMPK activator. PMID 40197369.
- Primary literature describing ATX-304 / O-304 AMPK-activator context. PMID 38749175.
- National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem CID 50923806. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/50923806.
For documented laboratory formats, open the ATX-304 product page.
