NADP+

Definition

NADP+ (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate) is a coenzyme that functions as an electron carrier in various biochemical reactions. It plays a crucial role in anabolic reactions, such as photosynthesis and lipid synthesis.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. NADP+ is reduced to NADPH during photosynthesis in the light-dependent reactions.
2. It serves as an essential electron donor in the Calvin cycle for carbohydrate synthesis.
3. NADP+ is involved in the pentose phosphate pathway, which generates NADPH and ribose 5-phosphate for nucleotide synthesis.
4. The balance between NADP+ and NADPH regulates oxidative stress by maintaining the reduced state of glutathione.
5. Enzymes like glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase catalyze the reaction that converts NADP+ to NADPH.

Review Questions

• What role does NADP+ play in photosynthesis?
• How does NADP+ contribute to the maintenance of cellular redox states?
• Which metabolic pathway involves the reduction of NADP+ to NADPH?

Related terms

ATP: Adenosine triphosphate, a molecule that carries energy within cells.

FADH2: A redox cofactor involved in several important reactions in metabolism.

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase: An enzyme that catalyzes the first step in the pentose phosphate pathway.