Cellular and metabolic research
NAD+
Also known as Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
A coenzyme present in every living cell, central to energy metabolism and a major focus of ageing research.
What it is
NAD+ is a coenzyme rather than a peptide, included here because it sits alongside these compounds in metabolic research. It is required for the reactions that convert nutrients into cellular energy, and it is also consumed by enzymes involved in DNA repair and gene regulation. Tissue levels decline with age, which is the basis of most current research interest.
What published research examines
- Mitochondrial energy metabolism and the electron transport chain
- Sirtuin enzymes, which require NAD+ to function
- PARP enzymes and DNA repair
- Age-related decline in tissue NAD+ concentration
Where the research stands
NAD+ biology is well established. The active research questions concern whether and how raising tissue levels changes outcomes, which is a far less settled area.