NAD

∞ generated and posted on 2016.01.24 ∞

Important electron acceptor used in glycolysis and which, in its reduced form, is fed into electron transport chains.

NAD⁺ is the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a nucleic-acid derivative. The reduced form, that is, as is seen once electrons have been accepted, is NADH.

Note that the overall reaction is NAD⁺ + 2e^- + 2H⁺ → NADH + H⁺, where "H⁺" is another name for "proton" or "hydrogen ion".

A similar molecule exists that is called NADP⁺ (and equivalent NADPH) which accepts electrons that are to be used as "reducing power" in anabolic reactions.