Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate
Identifiers
CAS number	53-59-8 Y
PubChem	5884
MeSH	NADP
Properties
Molecular formula	C21H29N7O17P3
Molar mass	744.413
Y (what is this?)  (verify) Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP⁺, in older notation triphosphopyridine nucleotide, TPN) is used in anabolic reactions, such as lipid and nucleic acid synthesis, which require NADPH as a reducing agent.

NADPH is the reduced form of NADP⁺. NADP+ differs from NAD+ by the presence in NADP+ of an additional phosphate group on the 2' position of the ribose ring that carries the adenine moiety.

[edit] In plants

In chloroplasts, NADP is reduced by ferredoxin-NADP+ reductase in the last step of the electron chain of the light reactions of photosynthesis. The NADPH produced is then used as reducing power for the biosynthetic reactions in the Calvin cycle of photosynthesis.

[edit] In animals

The oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway is the major source of NADPH in cells, producing approximately 60% of the NADPH required.

NADPH provides the reducing equivalents for biosynthetic reactions and for oxidation-reduction involved in protection against the toxicity of ROS (reactive oxygen species) i.e. the regeneration of reduced glutathione, known as GSH. NADPH is also used for anabolic pathways, such as lipid synthesis, cholesterol synthesis and fatty acid chain elongation.

It is the source of reducing equivalents for cytochrome 450 hydroxylation of aromatic compounds, steroids, alcohols, and drugs.

Ball-and-stick model of NADP+

Ball-and-stick model of NADPH

[edit] See also

• Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide