Comparing NAD and NAD+
NAD, otherwise known as Nicotinamide Adenoine Dinucleotide, is an essential coenzyme found in all living cells, making it an important factor in cellular energy metabolism. NAD+ is an activated form of NAD. While NAD is commonly found in cells, NAD+ is harder to come by.
NAD is a coenzyme found in all living cells. It is composed of ribosylnicotinamide 5'-diphosphate linked to adenosine 5'-phosphate by two pyrophosphate bonds. NAD plays an important role in the metabolic pathway, transferring electrons to the respiratory chain in the breakdown of glucose and fatty acids for energy production.
NAD+ is the activated form of NAD. However, its occurrence level is much lower since it must be activated by certain enzymes in the cell before it can be used. NAD+ is important for the cell as it can be used to activate certain enzymes to carry out a variety of metabolic functions. It plays an important role in the production of ATP, which is the main energy currency of the cell.
To sum up, NAD and NAD+ are two essential coenzymes found in cells. NAD is more widely distributed than NAD+, which has to be activated by certain enzymes before it can be used. NAD is important for electron transfer and energy production, while NAD+ activates certain enzymes to carry out metabolic functions and produces ATP.