Discovery, metabolism and functions of NAD and NADP

Abstract

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) are two major players in metabolism as they participate as electron carriers in a multitude of redox reactions. Moreover, they act in life and death decisions on a cellular level in all known life forms. NAD and NADP both exist in two states; the oxidized forms are characterized by a positive charge on the nicotinamide (Nam) moiety, denoted NAD+ and NADP+ respectively. The reduced forms are denoted NADH and NADPH (Figure 1).