If you have been reading about REV-ERB agonist 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.
Updated 2026-07-15. Numbers and descriptions here follow the published literature rather than marketing material.
SR9009 is a synthetic small molecule studied as an agonist of the nuclear receptors REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ. It is not an approved medicine and has no established human therapeutic use. The compound appears in scientific literature as a tool for probing circadian and metabolic regulation. Online sellers often label it as a research chemical, sometimes using the nickname Stenabolic. Its chemical identity is distinct from selective androgen receptor modulators, stimulants, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta agonists. Researchers use it mainly in cell and animal experiments.
At the molecular level, SR9009 binds REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ and alters their repressive activity on target genes. These nuclear receptors help regulate the circadian clock, lipid synthesis, glucose metabolism, and inflammatory pathways. By changing transcription, the compound can shift the timing or magnitude of downstream metabolic processes in model systems. It does not act through androgen receptors or adenosine receptors, which distinguishes it from several substances sold for athletic performance. Whether the same transcriptional changes occur in humans at tolerable exposures remains an open question because controlled human studies are lacking.
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.
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.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molecular formula | C20H24ClN3O4S | Derived from published structure. |
| Molecular weight | 437.94 g/mol | Calculated value. |
| Appearance | White to off-white solid | Typical for purified research samples. |
| Solubility | DMSO, ethanol; low in water | Class: poorly water-soluble. |
| Typical storage | -20 °C, desiccated, protected from light | Limits degradation. |
In laboratory settings, SR9009 is typically characterized by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) or high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). These methods can confirm identity and estimate purity, but they require reference standards for accurate quantification. Because SR9009 is not a licensed pharmaceutical, no harmonized pharmacopeial monograph exists. Laboratories often validate in-house methods for matrices such as plasma, urine, or cell culture media. Sample preparation may involve protein precipitation or liquid-liquid extraction before analysis.
Physicochemical behavior influences handling. SR9009 is described as a solid with limited aqueous solubility, so organic solvents such as dimethyl sulfoxide or ethanol are common in research stock solutions. Aqueous dilution can produce precipitates if the organic content is too low. Light, heat, and repeated freeze-thaw cycles may affect stability. Storage recommendations usually specify a desiccated freezer environment protected from light, but exact stability data depend on the formulation and matrix.
=== Neurotransmitters === T3 may increase serotonin in the brain, in particular in the cerebral cortex, and down-regulate 5HT-2 receptors, based on studies in which T3 reversed learned helplessness in rats and physiological studies of the rat brain.
Substances and classifications table (31/10/2008) – European Legal Database on Drugs Archived 2021-02-25 at the Wayback Machine Report on all substances controlled in at least one EU country in XLS format Designer Drug Compound List Archived 2017-11-07 at the Wayback Machine at Chemograph Plus, DigiLab Software GmbH "Fentanyl landscape | PiHKAL · info". isomerdesign.com.
The two substrates of this enzyme are fluorenol and oxidised nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+). Its products are fluorenone, reduced NADH, and a proton. The enzyme can also use the alternative cofactor, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. This enzyme belongs to the family of oxidoreductases, specifically those acting on the CH-OH group of donor with NAD+ or NADP+ as acceptor. The systematic name of this enzyme class is fluoren-9-ol:NAD(P)+ oxidoreductase. This enzyme participates in fluorene degradation.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
== Synthesis == Phosphorimidazolide reagents have been synthesized from phosphate mono-esters. In one method, a phosphate mono-ester is dissolved in anhydrous pyridine or N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and activated using triphenylphosphine (PPh3) and 2,2’-Dithiodipyridine (2,2’-DTDP) in the presence of triethylamine (TEA) base and excess imidazole. In another method using fewer reagents, a phosphate mono-ester is dissolved in DMF and carbonyldiimidazole (CDI) is used to both remove an oxygen atom from the phosphate group and supply the imidazole substituent. The product of either reaction may be collected by precipitation using acetonitrile or acetone as antisolvent with sodium or lithium perchlorate to supply the sodium or lithium salt of the phosphorimidazolide respectively. Alternatively, the phosphorimidazolide may be isolated by reverse-phase flash column chromatography with TEAB buffer and acetonitrile.
=== Breastfeeding === While only small amounts of lithium are transmitted to the infant in breastmilk, there is limited data on the safety of breastfeeding while on lithium. Medical evaluation and monitoring of infants consuming breastmilk during maternal prescription may be indicated.
== Horticultural classification == This follows the classification adopted by V. Matthews in The International Clematis Register and Checklist 2002, except that C. ispahanica, now considered to have been included in error, has been omitted from the list of parent species in Tangutica Group.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
SR9009 is a synthetic REV-ERB agonist used in laboratory research. It is not an approved drug, and its effects in humans are not well characterized. It is often sold as a research chemical under the name Stenabolic.
No. SR9009 targets the nuclear receptors REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ, not the androgen receptor. This mechanism differs from selective androgen receptor modulators and from exercise mimetics that act on PPARδ.
Published evidence is mainly preclinical, using cell cultures and animal models. Controlled human trials are not well documented in the public literature. Claims about human performance or health effects therefore remain unsupported by robust clinical data.
SR9009 is a synthetic research compound that binds and modulates the nuclear receptors REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ. It is used in laboratory studies of circadian biology and metabolism, not as an approved medicine. It is also known by the informal name Stenabolic.