nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
A student studies a diagram of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate in a biology textbook.
Noun: A coenzyme, similar to NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide), that is present in most living cells. It primarily serves as a reducing agent (a reductant) in various anabolic metabolic processes, such as lipid and nucleic acid synthesis. It carries electrons and hydrogen ions.
This is a specialized scientific term used primarily in biochemistry and cellular biology. * It is often referred to by its abbreviation, NADP+ (oxidized form) or NADPH (reduced form carrying electrons). * It is used to describe a key molecule in metabolic pathways like the Calvin cycle in photosynthesis and the pentose phosphate pathway.
- In a textbook: "Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) provides the reducing power for the synthesis of fatty acids."
- In a research paper: "The enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase is crucial for generating nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate in its reduced form."
- In a lecture: "The light-dependent reactions produce ATP and NADPH, which are then used in the Calvin cycle."
- NADP+ / NADPH: The term is almost exclusively used in the context of its two states. NADP+ is the oxidized form that accepts electrons, and NADPH is the reduced form that donates electrons.
- Example: "The ratio of NADP+ to NADPH within a cell regulates metabolic flux through the pentose phosphate pathway."
- NADP+: The oxidized form of the coenzyme.
- NADPH: The reduced, electron-carrying form of the coenzyme (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced).
- NAD (Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide): A closely related coenzyme that primarily functions in catabolic reactions (e.g., cellular respiration).
- Coenzyme II (an older, less common term).
- TPN (Triphosphopyridine Nucleotide) (an obsolete term).
This term has one specific, technical meaning in biochemistry. It does not have different common-language meanings. Its entire definition is contained within its role as an electron carrier in anabolic (building) metabolic processes.
A student studies a diagram of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate in a biology textbook.
- a coenzyme similar to NAD and present in most living cells but serves as a reductant in different metabolic processes