What Is NAD+? Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Explained
NAD+ is a coenzyme found in every living cell, central to energy metabolism and to the enzymes that repair DNA. Here is what it is, how it was discovered and why researchers study it.
NAD+ in one paragraph
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a coenzyme: a helper molecule that enzymes need to do their job. It is found in every living cell and is involved in hundreds of reactions, most importantly the ones that turn food into usable energy. It is not a peptide, but it is studied alongside research peptides in cellular energy research, which is why it is sold in the same range.
- Full name
- Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
- Type
- Coenzyme (not a peptide)
- Molecular weight
- About 663 g/mol
- Forms
- NAD+ (oxidised), NADH (reduced)
- Our vial
- 1000mg
What NAD+ is made of
As the name says, NAD+ is two nucleotides joined together: one carries an adenine base and the other a nicotinamide group, linked through their phosphate groups. The nicotinamide end is the working part: it accepts and donates electrons. Nicotinamide is a form of vitamin B3, which is why B3 compounds are precursors to NAD+.
NAD+ vs NADH
| Form | State | Role |
|---|---|---|
| NAD+ | Oxidised | Accepts electrons in energy reactions |
| NADH | Reduced | Carries electrons to the mitochondria to make ATP |
Cells constantly switch NAD between these two forms. The ratio of NAD+ to NADH is a widely used marker of a cell's metabolic state.
Enzymes that consume NAD+
Besides its electron-carrying role, NAD+ is used up as a raw material by several enzyme families, which is why researchers care about how much of it cells have:
| Enzyme family | What it does in research models |
|---|---|
| Sirtuins | NAD+-dependent enzymes linked to metabolism and ageing research |
| PARPs | DNA repair enzymes that consume NAD+ when DNA is damaged |
| CD38 | An enzyme that breaks down NAD+, studied as a cause of falling NAD+ levels |
A short history
- 1906Arthur Harden and William Young identify a heat-stable factor needed for yeast fermentation, later shown to be NAD.
- 1930sOtto Warburg shows NAD carries hydrogen in metabolic reactions.
- 2000Sirtuins are shown to be NAD+-dependent, opening a large field of ageing research.
- TodayNAD+ and its precursors (NMN, NR) are among the most studied molecules in cellular energy research.
Why NAD+ research is popular
Studies in animals and some human tissues report that NAD+ levels fall with age, and researchers are testing whether that decline matters and whether it can be changed. That has driven research into NAD+ itself and its precursors such as nicotinamide riboside (NR) and nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN).
Research-grade NAD+
Our NAD+ comes in 1000mg vials as a lyophilised powder that dissolves readily. Compare it with the other cellular compounds in our MOTS-c, SS-31, NAD+ and glutathione guide.
Further reading
- MOTS-c, SS-31, NAD+ and glutathione compared
- What is 5-Amino-1MQ? (an NNMT inhibitor linked to NAD+)
- What is glutathione?
- How to reconstitute peptides
For laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption. Not medical or legal advice.
