What Is NAD+?
NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is an endogenous coenzyme found in all living cells. Note that it is a coenzyme, not a peptide. Research-grade material is supplied for laboratory research use only.
The short answer
NAD+ is a dinucleotide that sits at the center of cellular energy metabolism, cycling between its oxidized (NAD+) and reduced (NADH) forms to shuttle electrons in metabolic reactions. It is also a substrate for enzymes such as the sirtuins and PARPs, which is why it appears so often in longevity and cellular-stress research. Because it is a naturally occurring coenzyme rather than a synthetic peptide, it sits in a different category from the rest of the catalog.
Composition and specifications
| Compound | NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) |
|---|---|
| Class | Endogenous coenzyme (dinucleotide) — not a peptide |
| Also known as | CAS 53-84-9 |
| Sequence / length | Dinucleotide (not applicable) |
| CAS number | 53-84-9 |
| Molecular weight | 663.43 g/mol |
| Purity (typical) | ≥98.0% |
| Appearance | White to off-white lyophilized powder; water-soluble |
Values above reflect the compound's published specification. As with any research material, the definitive confirmation of identity and purity for a given lot is the mass-spectrometry and HPLC data on its Certificate of Analysis.
What it does in the cell
NAD+ is a redox coenzyme: it accepts and donates electrons as it cycles between NAD+ and NADH, which is central to how cells extract energy from nutrients. Separately, NAD+ is consumed as a substrate by sirtuins and other enzymes, linking its availability to signaling associated with cellular stress and aging in research models.
What has research examined?
NAD+ and its precursors are widely studied. Areas examined include:
- Cellular-energy and redox metabolism
- Sirtuin-associated signaling
- Cellular-senescence and aging research models
- DNA-repair-associated (PARP) pathways
These describe research directions, not established human outcomes from supplementation.
How is it characterized and tested?
For a coenzyme like NAD+, identity and purity are still confirmed analytically — typically by HPLC and mass spectrometry — and reported on a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis, which lets a researcher verify the material before use. See peptide handling and storage for how samples are kept stable once received.
Primary literature: browse peer-reviewed studies on NAD+ at PubMed.
Common questions
Is NAD+ a peptide?
No. NAD+ is an endogenous coenzyme (a dinucleotide), not a peptide. It is included in peptide research catalogs because of its role in cellular-energy and longevity research, but it belongs to a different chemical class.
Is NAD+ approved for human use?
NAD+ is a naturally occurring coenzyme sold in various forms; the research-grade material offered here is supplied for laboratory research use only and is not an approved drug for treating any condition.
Why is NAD+ studied in longevity research?
Because it is a substrate for sirtuins and other enzymes tied to cellular-stress and aging pathways, and because NAD+ availability changes with age in research models.