NAD+: the coenzyme, its two forms, and how to store it

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide is one of the most common reagents in biochemistry. This guide covers what NAD+ is, how it behaves in the lab, and what the independent report on our 1000 mg vial found. It describes chemistry only, not effects in people or animals.

What NAD+ is

NAD is a dinucleotide: two nucleotides, one carrying adenine and one carrying nicotinamide, joined through their phosphate groups. NAD+ is the oxidised form. Its molecular formula is C21H27N7O14P2 and its molecular weight is about 663.4 g/mol.

In redox chemistry NAD+ accepts a hydride (a proton and two electrons) and becomes NADH, the reduced form. Many enzymes use the pair to move electrons between reactions.

Telling the two forms apart

Both forms absorb ultraviolet light at 260 nm because of the adenine. Only NADH also absorbs at 340 nm, and that difference is how many enzyme assays follow a reaction: the 340 nm signal rises as NAD+ is reduced, or falls as NADH is oxidised.

Stability and storage

The two forms have opposite weaknesses. NAD+ is reasonably stable in neutral or mildly acidic solution but breaks down in alkaline conditions; NADH is the reverse. The dry powder takes up moisture from the air, so a sealed vial and a dry, cold store matter.

• Unopened: store cold and dry, protected from light.
• Let the vial reach room temperature before opening to limit moisture uptake.
• After reconstitution: keep at 2–8 °C, in a neutral to mildly acidic buffer, and write the preparation date on the vial.

What the lab report shows

Our NAD+ comes as 1000 mg of lyophilised powder in a 10 mL vial. Janoshik ran a qualitative and quantitative analysis, confirming the identity and measuring the amount present:

Enter the verification key at janoshik.com/verify to see the laboratory’s own record of the test.

In our range

Coenzymes

NAD+ 1000mg

$149.00Add to cart

For laboratory research use only. This product is not registered on the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, and nothing on this page describes use in humans or animals.