Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

Definition
noun
A coenzyme made up of ribosylnicotinamide 5′-phosphate (nmn) coupled by pyrophosphatelinkage to the 5′-phosphate adenosine 2′,5′-bisphosphate and acts as a reducing agent in several anabolic reactions, or as an electron carrier capable of donating electrons to certain biosynthetic reactions, e.g. lipid and nucleic acid syntheses
Supplement
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate or NADP⁺ is a coenzyme similar to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) but the former has an additional phosphate (particularly on the 2′ position of the ribose ring attached to the adenine). The NADP⁺ acts as a reducing agent in certain anabolic reactions, particularly through its reduced form, NADPH.

NADPH forms when NADP+ molecule gains an electron from hydrogen, i.e.: NADP + H¹. NADPH, since it gains an electron, would be capable of donating electrons to certain biosynthetic reactions, such as lipid synthesis, cholesterol synthesis, fatty acid chain elongation, and nucleic acid synthesis. Thus, it is an electron carrier in a number of reactions, being alternately oxidised (NADP-) and reduced (NADPH).

Its chemical name is adenosine 5′-(trihydrogen diphosphate), 2′-(dihydrogen phosphate), P’-5′-ester with 3-(aminocarbonyl)-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylpyridinium, inner salt.
Abbreviation / Acronym: NADP⁺
Chemical formula:

• C₂₁H₂₉N₇O₁₇P₃

See also:

• nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)