Everything below concerns NADH. We keep the language plain, cite what the science says, and separate well-supported claims from open questions.
Last reviewed on 2025-08-31. Where a claim depends on a specific study, the study is described rather than over-claimed.
Beyond electron transfer, NAD+ serves as a substrate for enzymes that cleave it and attach its ADP-ribose portion to other molecules. This group includes poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases, CD38, and sirtuins. Such reactions consume NAD+ and can influence its availability for metabolism. Cells replenish NAD+ through a salvage pathway that recycles nicotinamide and through routes starting from tryptophan or vitamin B3 forms. How these synthesis and consumption routes are coordinated across tissues remains an active area of study, and compartment-specific concentrations are difficult to measure directly.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, abbreviated NAD+, is a dinucleotide built from adenine, nicotinamide, two ribose sugars, and two phosphate groups. The oxidized form carries a positive charge on the nicotinamide ring, while the reduced form, NADH, is neutral. This pair acts as a reversible electron carrier in cells. NAD+ is present in bacteria, plants, animals, and fungi. Its structure allows it to accept and donate electrons without being consumed in the reactions it supports.
In cells, NAD+ functions primarily as an electron carrier. Dehydrogenase enzymes in glycolysis and the citric acid cycle transfer hydride from substrates to NAD+, producing NADH. NADH then delivers electrons to the mitochondrial respiratory chain, supporting ATP synthesis. In fermentation, NADH is reoxidized to NAD+ so that glycolysis can continue. The balance between NAD+ and NADH helps set metabolic flux. Beyond redox, NAD+ serves as a substrate for enzymes that cleave it, including sirtuins, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases, and CD38. These reactions consume NAD+ and release nicotinamide and ADP-ribose products.
Biosynthesis occurs through salvage, Preiss-Handler, and de novo pathways. In mammals, the salvage pathway from nicotinamide predominates, and NAMPT is often described as rate-limiting. Nicotinamide riboside and nicotinic acid enter related routes that converge on NAD+ production. Tissue NAD+ concentrations vary widely and are maintained by a balance of synthesis and consumption. Some studies report age-related declines in certain tissues, but whether these changes cause disease or can be reversed to improve human health remains an open question.
NAD+ stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, the oxidized form of a coenzyme found in all living cells. The molecule consists of two nucleotides, adenine and nicotinamide ribose, joined through phosphate groups. Its chemical formula is C21H27N7O14P2, and the free acid has a molar mass near 663.43 grams per mole. In redox reactions, NAD+ accepts a hydride ion and becomes NADH. The pair NAD+ and NADH participates in hundreds of metabolic reactions, including steps in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation.
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Molar mass | 663.43 g/mol | For the free acid form; salts have higher mass. |
| Appearance | White to off-white powder | Often hygroscopic; may clump on exposure to air. |
| Solubility | Freely soluble in water | Poorly soluble in nonpolar organic solvents. |
| Typical storage | -20 °C, desiccated | Protect from light and moisture; avoid repeated freeze-thaw. |
| Common synonyms | beta-NAD, DPN | DPN stands for diphosphopyridine nucleotide, an older name. |
Biosynthesis of NAD+ starts from nicotinamide, nicotinic acid, or nicotinamide riboside through salvage pathways. A rate-limiting enzyme, nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase, converts nicotinamide to nicotinamide mononucleotide. Further coupling with ATP yields NAD+. In mammals, the liver and muscle can synthesize NAD+ from dietary precursors, but tissue levels vary widely. Researchers study these pathways to understand age-related changes, metabolic disorders, and neurodegeneration. Direct causal links between NAD+ decline and disease remain an active area of investigation.
NAD+ is a dinucleotide composed of adenine, ribose, and nicotinamide groups joined by phosphate linkages. It serves as a coenzyme in oxidoreductase reactions, cycling between oxidized NAD+ and reduced NADH. The molecule is water-soluble and occurs in all living cells. Its nicotinamide ring accepts hydride ions during catabolic reactions, linking substrate oxidation to electron transport. This redox couple supports ATP production and helps maintain cytosolic and mitochondrial redox balance in many cell types.
In humans, NAD+ can be synthesized from nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, nicotinamide riboside, and tryptophan through overlapping pathways. The salvage pathway recycles nicotinamide back to NAD+ and is often considered a major route in many tissues. Dietary precursors and intracellular recycling both contribute to the pool, but the quantitative importance of each source remains an active research question. NAD+ levels are not uniform across organs or cell compartments. Measurements in blood do not necessarily reflect concentrations inside tissues.
NAD+ is a dinucleotide composed of nicotinamide, ribose, and adenine linked by phosphate groups. Its full name is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, with "+" denoting the oxidized form. The molecule acts as a coenzyme in redox reactions, cycling between NAD+ and NADH. In cells, it participates in electron transfer during glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. It is distinct from NADP+, which carries an additional phosphate group and supports different biosynthetic reactions.
Laboratory handling of NAD+ follows standard practices for hygroscopic fine chemicals. Personnel typically avoid inhalation and skin contact, use gloves and eye protection, and work in a ventilated area. Quality control may include ultraviolet absorbance at the nicotinamide maximum, chromatographic purity, water content, and identity confirmation by mass spectrometry. Because commercial preparations can contain counterions, residual solvents, or related nucleotides, a certificate of analysis helps verify the material. Researchers should confirm that the form supplied matches the intended assay.
Measuring NAD+ in biological samples requires care because the molecule is chemically reactive and present at low concentrations in some tissues. Common approaches include enzymatic cycling assays, high-performance liquid chromatography, and liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Each method has different sensitivity and specificity, and sample preparation can affect results. Acidic or alkaline extraction steps are used in some protocols, but the choice depends on the analyte and matrix. No single method is universally optimal for every tissue or fluid.
Solid NAD+ is relatively stable when kept dry, cold, and protected from light. Aqueous solutions are more vulnerable to hydrolysis and can lose activity during repeated freeze-thaw cycles or prolonged storage at ambient temperature. Stability depends on pH, ionic strength, and the presence of degrading enzymes or metal ions. For many laboratory uses, aliquots are stored frozen and thawed only once. Exact degradation rates vary by matrix, so stability should be checked for each application rather than assumed.
The existence of intermolecular forces was first postulated by Johannes Diderik van der Waals in 1873. However, Nobel laureate Hermann Emil Fischer developed supramolecular chemistry's philosophical roots. In 1894, Fischer suggested that enzyme–substrate interactions take the form of a "lock and key", the fundamental principles of molecular recognition and host–guest chemistry. In the early twentieth century non-covalent bonds were understood in gradually more detail, with the hydrogen bond being described by Latimer and Rodebush in 1920. With the deeper understanding of the non-covalent interactions, for example, the clear elucidation of DNA structure, chemists started to emphasize the importance of non-covalent interactions. In 1967, Charles J. Pedersen discovered crown ethers, which are ring-like structures capable of chelating certain metal ions. Then, in 1969, Jean-Marie Lehn discovered a class of molecules similar to crown ethers, called cryptands. After that, Donald J. Cram synthesized many variations to crown ethers, on top of separate molecules capable of selective interaction with certain chemicals. The three scientists were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1987 for "development and use of molecules with structure-specific interactions of high selectivity". In 2016, Bernard L. Feringa, Sir J. Fraser Stoddart, and Jean-Pierre Sauvage were awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry, "for the design and synthesis of molecular machines".
== Dallas Buyers Club == After suffering from the side effects of AZT, Ron Woodroof began looking for other drugs he could use to further prolong his life. He acquired nutritional supplements and drugs not approved by the FDA for use in the United States, which he found helpful in ameliorating his symptoms. Woodroof established what he called the Dallas Buyers Club in 1988 as a front for distributing these drugs and other substances to AIDS patients.
People sometimes think that I and the others worked on penicillin because we were interested in suffering humanity. I don't think it ever crossed our minds about suffering humanity. This was an interesting scientific exercise, and because it was of some use in medicine is very gratifying, but this was not the reason that we started working on it. Florey approached the MRC for funding in September 1939, shortly after the outbreak of the Second World War, and Mellanby authorised the project, allocating £250 (equivalent to £14,128 in 2025) to launch the project, with £300 for salaries and £100 for expenses per annum for three years. Florey felt that more would be required. On 1 November 1939, Henry M. "Dusty" Miller, Jr, from the Natural Sciences Division of the Rockefeller Foundation dropped by to discuss funding Heatley's position. Heatley had fallen out with Chain, and had accepted a new position at the Carlsberg Laboratory in Copenhagen on a Rockefeller Fellowship, but due to the outbreak of the Second World War, he had decided to remain at Oxford. Miller arranged for Heatley to retain his fellowship. Instead of working for Chain, Heatley would report directly to Florey as his personal research assistant.
Some of the oldest forms of biologics are extracted from the bodies of animals, and other humans especially. Important biologics include: Whole blood and other blood components Organ transplantation and tissue transplants Stem-cell therapy Antibodies for passive immunity (e.g., to treat a virus infection) Human reproductive cells Human breast milk Fecal microbiota Some biologics that were previously extracted from animals, such as insulin, are now more commonly produced by recombinant DNA. Biologics can refer to a wide range of biological products in medicine. However, in most cases, the term is used more restrictively for a class of therapeutics (either approved or in development) that are produced using biological processes involving recombinant DNA technology. These medications are usually one of three types:
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
Later, in 1687 in the Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica, Newton showed mathematically that in an elastic fluid consisting of particles at rest, between which are repulsive forces inversely proportional to their distance, the density would be directly proportional to the pressure, but this mathematical treatise does not involve any Mariott temperature dependence and is not the proper physical explanation for the observed relationship. Instead of a static theory, a kinetic theory is needed, which was developed over the next two centuries by Daniel Bernoulli (1738) and more fully by Rudolf Clausius (1857), Maxwell and Boltzmann. This law was the first physical law to be expressed in the form of an equation describing the dependence of two variable quantities.
== Detroit Lions == It has been said that Detroit Lions' announcer Van Patrick applied the nickname "Fearsome Foursome" to the Lions front four as early as 1960, when the Lion defensive line consisted of ends Bill Glass and Darris McCord, and tackles Alex Karras and Roger Brown. Other reports state that sportswriter Bruno Kerns of the Pontiac Press first used the Fearsome Four nickname for the Lions' defensive line in 1960. The Fearsome Foursome name for the Lions' defensive line continued after Sam Williams replaced Glass in 1962; Glass being traded to the Cleveland Browns for quarterback Milt Plum after the 1961 season. Other than 1963, McCord, Karras, Brown and Williams started together from 1962 through 1965; until Williams was taken by the Atlanta Falcons in the 1966 expansion draft. Karras missed the 1963 season as he was suspended in connection with alleged gambling. Their most well-known game was the 1962 "Thanksgiving Day Massacre" game against the Green Bay Packers, where they sacked Bart Starr 11 times (seven by Brown) and broke the Packers 12-game winning streak. The group's early defensive coordinator was future Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach Don Shula. Karras is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 300 pound (136 kg) Brown, was one of the first NFL lineman to play at 300 pounds or more, with the speed and agility to make him highly effective at that weight. Brown was named to the Pro Bowl as a Lion from 1962 through 1966 and first-team All-Pro twice (1962-63).
In 2005, James co-authored a paper that suggested N-acetylcysteine and glutathione ethyl ester might be useful as prophylactics for those receiving vaccines containing the preservative thiomersal. This suggestion was based on an in-vitro study in which human neuroblastoma and glioblastoma cells were directly exposed to high levels of thiomersal with and without doses of N-acetylcysteine, glutathione ethyl ester and other test substances. It is scientific consensus that the thiomersal used as a preservative in vaccines is not harmful.
Nylon was first used commercially in a nylon-bristled toothbrush in 1938, followed more famously in women's stockings or "nylons" which were shown at the 1939 New York World's Fair and first sold commercially in 1940, whereupon they became an instant commercial success with 64 million pairs sold during their first year on the market. During World War II, almost all nylon production was diverted to the military for use in parachutes and parachute cord. Wartime uses of nylon and other plastics greatly increased the market for the new materials. The production of nylon required interdepartmental collaboration between three departments at DuPont: the Department of Chemical Research, the Ammonia Department, and the Department of Rayon. Some of the key ingredients of nylon had to be produced using high pressure chemistry, the main area of expertise of the Ammonia Department. Nylon was considered a "godsend to the Ammonia Department", which had been in financial difficulties. The reactants of nylon soon constituted half of the Ammonia Department's sales and helped them come out of the period of the Great Depression by creating jobs and revenue at DuPont. DuPont's nylon project demonstrated the importance of chemical engineering in industry, helped create jobs, and furthered the advancement of chemical engineering techniques. In fact, it developed a chemical plant that provided 1800 jobs and used the latest technologies of the time, which are still used as a model for chemical plants today.
In 2005, Serpin A12 was discovered to be found in rats, mice, and humans. One study confirmed that those with insulin resistance had higher levels of Serpin A12 than others. Thus, those humans (or animals) who were diabetic had more Serpin A12 than those who were not. The explanation for this lies in the fact that type 2 diabetes is related to inflammation processes, hence coinciding with the anti-inflammatory effect of Serpin A12.
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
=== Prion proteins === The PMCA technology has been used by several groups to understand the molecular mechanism of prion replication, the nature of the infectious agent, the phenomenon of prion strains and species barrier, the effect of cellular components, to detect PrPSc in tissues and biological fluids and to screen for inhibitors against prion replication. Recent studies by the groups of Supattapone and Ma were able to produce prion replication in vitro by PMCA using purified PrPC and recombinant PrPC with the sole addition of synthetic polyanions and lipids. These studies have shown that infectious prions can be produced in the absence of any other cellular component and constitute some of the strongest evidence in favor of the prion hypothesis. PMCA has been applied to replicate the misfolded protein from diverse species. The newly generated protein exhibits the same biochemical, biological, and structural properties as brain-derived PrPSc and strikingly it is infectious to wild type animals, producing a disease with similar characteristics as the illness produced by brain-isolated prions.
Mealworms are edible for humans, and are processed into various food products available in food retail, including insect burgers. However, most insect-based foods are limited to snacks and protein bars, which are not intended to replace traditional meat consumption. Due to their high protein and fat content, as well as large amounts of fiber, they represent a good food source for humans. They are rich in oleic acid, which may decrease low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels in the blood. Mealworms have historically been consumed in many Asian countries, particularly in Southeast Asia. There, they are commonly found in food markets and sold as street food alongside other edible insects. Baked or fried mealworms have been marketed as a healthy snack food in recent history, though the consumption of mealworms goes back centuries. However, recent research has found that cultural attitudes and widespread disgust toward eating insects, particularly in Western countries, make it unlikely that insects will significantly replace meat in human diets. In May 2017, mealworms were approved as food in Switzerland. In June 2021, dried mealworms were authorized as novel food in the European Union, after the European Food Safety Authority assessed the larvae as safe for human consumption. Mealworm larvae contain significant nutrient content. Every 100 grams of raw mealworm larvae contains 206 kilocalories and anywhere from 14 to 25 grams of protein.
=== Electrocardiogram === Electrocardiography (ECG/EKG in German vernacular. Elektrokardiogram) monitors electrical activity of the heart, primarily as recorded from the skin surface. A 12 lead recording, recording the electrical activity in three planes, anterior, posterior, and lateral is the most commonly used form. The ECG allows observation of the heart electrical activity by visualizing waveform beat origin (typically from the sinoatrial or SA node) following down the bundle of HIS and ultimately stimulating the ventricles to contract forcing blood through the body. Much can be learned by observing the QRS morphology (named for the respective portions of the polarization/repolarization waveform of the wave, P,Q,R,S,T wave). Rhythm abnormalities can also be visualized as in slow heart rate bradycardia, or fast heart rate tachycardia.
=== Dissolution and UN embargo === During the collapse of communism in Europe, Yugoslavia's republics introduced multiparty politics and held elections in 1990. During the same time, conflicts between the republics and the national communities intensified and federal institutions weakened. Just weeks after the first Croatian elections and after a Dinamo Zagreb-Red Star riot at the same stadium, at the Yugoslavia-Netherlands friendly in preparation for the 1990 World Cup, the Croatian crowd in Zagreb jeered the Yugoslav team and anthem and waved Dutch flags (owing to its resemblance to the Croatian tricolour). With the dissolution of Yugoslavia, the team split up and players joined the newly emerging national teams. The Belgrade-based team of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) was banned from competing at Euro 92 under UN sanctions. The decision was made on 31 May 1992, just 10 days before the competition commenced. The SFRY Yugoslav team had earned the top spot of their group during the disintegration, and the FRY team was unable to take its spot in the competition due to United Nations Security Council Resolution 757. Their place was taken by group runners-up Denmark, who went on to win the competition. After the breakup of Yugoslavia, Serbia and Montenegro proclaimed the state of FRY, which claimed to be the continuation of the previous Yugoslavia. A claim which was not generally accepted by the international community, except by FIFA and UEFA.
== Human proteins == The human mitochondrial rhodanese gene is TST. The following other human genes match the "Rhodanese-like" domain on InterPro, but are not the rodanase with its catalytic activity (see also the list of related families in #Structure and mechanism):
Sources: en.wikipedia.org
It indicates the oxidized form, which has a positive charge on the nicotinamide nitrogen. The reduced partner NADH lacks that charge and carries added electrons. The plus sign is part of the standard abbreviation, not a separate ion.
No. It also serves as a substrate for signaling and DNA-repair enzymes such as sirtuins and PARPs. Those reactions consume NAD+ and connect its availability to cellular regulation. Energy transfer remains its most abundant known role.
NAD+ is the oxidized electron acceptor, while NADH is the reduced electron carrier. They form a reversible redox pair and differ by a hydride ion. Cells maintain different ratios of the two depending on conditions and compartment.
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, with the plus sign indicating the oxidized form. It is a coenzyme present in all living cells. The reduced form is NADH.