NAD+ as a research material: identifiers, form and what it is not

NAD+ is nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in its oxidised form, a coenzyme involved in redox reactions. It is a dinucleotide, not a peptide, even though it is often catalogued beside peptide research materials. This guide covers its identifiers, the meaning of the plus sign, and how it is supplied.

NAD+ at a glance

Why is NAD+ not a peptide?

A peptide is a chain of amino acids joined by peptide bonds. NAD+ contains no amino acid chain. It is made of two nucleotides joined through their phosphate groups, one carrying an adenine base and the other carrying nicotinamide. That is what “dinucleotide” means. The phosphorus atoms in its molecular formula reflect those phosphate groups.

What does the plus sign mean?

The coenzyme exists in two forms. NAD+ is the oxidised form and NADH is the reduced form. They are different chemical species with different identifiers, so a listing should state which form is supplied. Ascend Research lists the oxidised form, CAS 53-84-9.

Why is the vial quantity larger than for peptides?

Quantities are set per compound and are not comparable between compounds by weight alone. NAD+ is listed at 500mg per vial, whereas most peptide listings are between 1mg and 100mg. The stated quantity is the amount of material in the vial.

How is NAD+ supplied by Ascend Research?

The other two compounds in the set are covered in the MOTS-c guide and the SS-31 guide.

What should the documentation show?

• Which form was tested: the oxidised form, NAD+.
• The batch number, matching the vial label.
• A purity figure and an identity result consistent with approximately 663.4 g/mol.
• Appearance recorded as a white lyophilised powder.

Batch documents are on the COAs page. Storage should follow the documentation supplied with the product; general practice is covered in our storage guide.

Frequently asked questions

What does NAD+ stand for?

NAD stands for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide. The plus sign indicates the oxidised form of the coenzyme.

What is the CAS number for NAD+?

The CAS number for the oxidised form, NAD+, is 53-84-9.

Is NAD+ a peptide?

No. NAD+ is a dinucleotide coenzyme. It contains no chain of amino acids.

What is the difference between NAD+ and NADH?

NAD+ is the oxidised form of the coenzyme and NADH is the reduced form. They are different chemical species.

What is the molecular weight of NAD+?

Approximately 663.4 g/mol, with the molecular formula C21H27N7O14P2.

All Ascend Research products are sold strictly for laboratory research use only. They are not for human or animal use, and nothing in this article is medical advice.

The Ascend Research team