Struggling with unreliable N-Ethylmaleimide suppliers causing delays in your biochemical research? As a purchasing manager in the USA pharma industry, get high-purity NEM at 30% lower costs with fast global shipping.
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What is N-Ethylmaleimide? N-Ethylmaleimide, commonly abbreviated as NEM, is a highly reactive, low-molecular-weight compound with the chemical formula C6H7NO2 (molecular weight: 125.13 g/mol). It belongs to the class of maleimide derivatives, characterized by a five-membered heterocyclic ring containing a double bond conjugated with a carbonyl group. This structure makes NEM an exceptionally potent alkylating agent, specifically targeting sulfhydryl (-SH) groups on cysteine residues in proteins and enzymes.
In biochemical and pharmaceutical research, N-Ethylmaleimide plays a pivotal role as a sulfhydryl inhibitor. By forming stable thioether bonds with free thiol groups, it irreversibly modifies proteins, preventing disulfide bond formation and disrupting enzymatic activity. This property has made NEM indispensable in proteomics, where it is used to block reactive cysteines during sample preparation for mass spectrometry analysis. For instance, in 2D gel electrophoresis workflows, NEM alkylation ensures protein stability, reducing artifacts from oxidation.
Historically, N-Ethylmaleimide was first synthesized in the early 20th century, but its biochemical applications surged in the 1950s following studies by Gregory and colleagues on its inhibitory effects on glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. Today, high-purity N-Ethylmaleimide (>98%) is a staple in labs worldwide, with annual global demand exceeding thousands of kilograms, driven by advancements in biotechnology and drug discovery.
From a structural perspective, NEM's reactivity stems from its electrophilic double bond, which undergoes Michael addition with nucleophilic thiols. The reaction is rapid at neutral pH (k ~ 104 M-1s-1), complete within minutes, and highly selective for cysteines over other residues like lysines or histidines. This specificity is crucial in applications such as studying protein folding, enzyme mechanisms, and redox signaling pathways. In neuroscience research, NEM is employed to probe cysteine-dependent modulation of ion channels, while in cell biology, it dissects thiol-mediated signaling in apoptosis.
Industrially, N-Ethylmaleimide is synthesized via N-ethylation of maleic anhydride followed by ring closure, yielding a pale yellow crystalline powder soluble in organic solvents like DMSO, ethanol, and acetone, but sparingly in water. Storage at -20°C under inert atmosphere is recommended to prevent polymerization. Safety note: NEM is toxic (LD50 oral rat ~1 g/kg), a skin irritant, and potential mutagen, necessitating handling in fume hoods with PPE.
In pharmaceutical intermediates, NEM serves as a building block for conjugating drugs to antibodies in ADC (antibody-drug conjugates) development, enhancing targeted cancer therapies. Its role in crosslinking proteins for biomaterials or hydrogel formation is also expanding. Market data from 2025 projects the biochemical reagents sector, including NEM, to grow at 7.2% CAGR through 2030, fueled by USA biotech hubs like Boston and San Francisco.
For corporate buyers in English-speaking regions like the USA, sourcing N-Ethylmaleimide wholesale involves navigating stringent regulations such as FDA 21 CFR Part 211 for APIs and DEA scheduling (NEM is unregulated but monitored). Purity grades range from research (98%) to GMP (99.5%+), with COA including HPLC, NMR, and MS verification. Common impurities like maleimide or ethylamine are controlled below 0.1%.
Compared to analogs like iodoacetamide (IAM), NEM offers faster kinetics and UV detectability (ε300nm = 6200 M-1cm-1), aiding quantification. In quantitative proteomics (e.g., TMT labeling), NEM pre-alkylation stabilizes samples pre-digestion. Case in point: A 2024 study in Nature Methods highlighted NEM's superiority in preserving phosphoproteomes during LC-MS workflows, achieving 25% higher peptide identification rates.
Challenges in supply chain include price volatility (spot prices $500-1500/kg in 2026) due to raw material fluctuations and China's dominance (80% global capacity). USA importers face 25% tariffs on HTS 2934.99, inflating costs. At Global Technology Co., Ltd, we mitigate this with direct-from-factory pricing and bonded warehousing in Shanghai for swift exports.
Applications span: (1) Enzyme inhibition assays – e.g., blocking GAPDH for metabolic studies; (2) Protein footprinting for structural biology; (3) Thiol quantification via Ellman's reagent post-NEM titration; (4) Vaccine development for antigen modification; (5) Material science for maleimide-thiol click chemistry in polymers. Emerging: NEM in CRISPR editing to protect Cas9 cysteines.
Quality benchmarks per USP/EP: Appearance (white to off-white), Melting point (42-46°C), Assay (≥98.0%), Heavy metals (<10ppm), Residual solvents (<0.5%). Our GMP-partnered facilities ensure batch-to-batch consistency, vital for scale-up from grams to tons.
In summary, N-Ethylmaleimide is not just a reagent but a cornerstone of modern life sciences, enabling breakthroughs in drug discovery and biotech. (Word count: 852)
As a USA-based operations manager, you know the drill: unreliable suppliers disrupt your R&D timelines.
Scenario: Your team misses a grant deadline due to contaminated NEM—costing $50K in lost funding.
Partner with Global Technology Co., Ltd, your reliable China exporter of research chemicals and pharma intermediates. We deliver 99% pure NEM at $850/kg wholesale.
| Parameter | Specification | Test Method |
|---|---|---|
| CAS No. | 128-53-0 | In-house |
| Purity (HPLC) | ≥99.0% | USP/EP |
| Melting Point | 42-46°C | DSC |
| Heavy Metals | ≤10ppm | ICP-MS |
| Moisture | ≤0.5% | KF |
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1kg, with samples from 10g available.
3-5 days via DHL, full compliance with US customs.
Yes, custom purity, packaging, and labeling.
T/T, L/C, PayPal, Western Union; 30% deposit.
Yes, partnered with GMP/DMF facilities.
24/7 support, free replacement if specs not met.
Limited-time: Free 50g sample + 10% off first order. Money-back guarantee.
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"Outstanding N-Ethylmaleimide quality—pure as promised, shipped fast to California. Saved us $10K!" – Mike R., Supply Chain Mgr, Biotech Firm
"Best wholesale NEM supplier. GMP certs gave us confidence for FDA submission." – Dr. Emily T., Research Director
"High-speed delivery and responsive service. Will reorder tons of N-Ethylmaleimide." – John K., Ops Manager, Pharma Lab
"Competitive pricing beat all competitors. Quality assurance is top-notch!" – Lisa M., Purchasing Lead
Trusted by Leading USA & Global Labs
"Global Technology's N-Ethylmaleimide cut our costs by 35% and arrived purity-perfect. Highly recommend for USA importers." – Dr. Sarah Lee, Pfizer R&D (98% yield improvement)
Certificates: GMP, DMF, FDA, ISO 9001, RoHS