NADPH

One of the biologically active forms of nicotinic acid. Differs from NAD by an additional phosphate group at the 2?position of the adenosine moiety. Serves as a coenzyme of hydrogenases and dehydrogenases. Present in living cells primarily in the r

A coenzyme composed of ribosylnicotinamide 5′- phosphate coupled by pyrophosphate linkage to the 5′-phosphate adenosine 2′,5′-bisphosphate. The reduced from of NADP. It is an energy-storage form that can be transferred to the Calvin cycle where it participates in the production of carbohydrate.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) is used to maintain reduced glutathione (GSH) and thioredoxin (TRX). It is also well known as an essential electron donor and an indispensable cofactor for transferring and reserving reduction potential for numerous anabolic reactions. A growing body of evidence has shown that regeneration and maintenance of the cellular NADP(H) content is strongly implicated in various pathological conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and aging, especially in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. Compared with non-tumor cells, tumor cells usually maintain high levels of NADPH to power redox defense and use biosynthetic reactions to sustain their rapid growth[1].

[1] Huai-Qiang Ju. “NADPH homeostasis in cancer: functions, mechanisms and therapeutic implications.” Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy (2020): 231.