What is NAD+?
NAD+ is the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme found in all living cells. It is not a peptide. It is supplied here as a lyophilized powder for laboratory research, where it is widely used as an assay reagent and reference material in enzymology and cell biology.
NAD+ structure and composition
NAD+ consists of two nucleotides, one carrying adenine and one carrying nicotinamide, joined through a pyrophosphate bridge. Molecular formula C21H27N7O14P2, molecular weight 663.43 Da. The nicotinamide ring carries the positive charge that gives the oxidized form its name, and the reduced counterpart, NADH, is the species most worth distinguishing from it analytically. The solid is hygroscopic, so moisture control matters more for NAD+ than for most of the catalog.
Where this material appears in the literature
NAD+ is one of the most extensively studied molecules in biochemistry. In the research literature it appears chiefly as a redox cofactor in enzyme assays, and as a substrate in in vitro studies of sirtuin and PARP enzyme families and of cellular energy metabolism. Imperial Biolab supplies the material for that kind of laboratory investigation and makes no claim about what it does in any living subject.
Related material in the catalog
NAD+ is catalogued with 5-Amino-1MQ, a small molecule studied in relation to nicotinamide N-methyltransferase, and with MOTS-c, a mitochondrially encoded peptide. All three are grouped for metabolic and mitochondrial pathway research but are chemically unrelated.
Analysis and certification
Every batch is analyzed by an independent, accredited US laboratory before release, using RP-HPLC for purity and LC-MS for identity confirmation. The certificate of analysis is published against the batch number rather than against the product page, so the document you read is the document for the vial you receive. The batch number printed on the vial label, and the QR code beside it, are the link between the two.
Purity specification
Batches are released against a ≥99% purity specification, determined by RP-HPLC peak area. A specification is a release threshold, not a description of every batch. The measured figure for the batch you receive is stated on its certificate of analysis and may sit above the specification.
Where a measured figure and the specification differ, the certificate is the record that applies to your material. Analytical figures relate to the batch they are published against and carry no implication of suitability for any purpose beyond laboratory research.
Research use only
Imperial Biolab supplies this material as a reference standard for in vitro laboratory research. It is not supplied for any use in humans or animals, it is not a drug, dietary supplement, food or cosmetic, it has not been evaluated by the FDA, and nothing on this page describes or implies any such use. Sale is restricted to persons aged 21 or over who are qualified researchers or who purchase on behalf of a research institution, laboratory or business.
| Compound |
NAD+ |
| Also known as |
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (oxidized), beta-NAD |
| Class |
Dinucleotide coenzyme (not a peptide) |
| Structure |
Adenine and nicotinamide nucleotides joined by a pyrophosphate bridge |
| Molecular formula |
C21H27N7O14P2 |
| Molecular weight |
663.43 Da |
| CAS number |
53-84-9 |
| Appearance |
White to off white lyophilized powder, hygroscopic |
| Purity specification |
≥99% |
| Purity method |
RP-HPLC |
| Identity method |
LC-MS |
| Solubility |
Freely soluble in sterile water and aqueous buffers for analytical preparation |
| Labeled quantity |
500mg per vial |
Characterization. Values above describe the compound as supplied. The figures for the batch you receive, including measured purity, are stated on its certificate of analysis.
How this material is tested
Two separate analyses are carried out on every batch before release, and both appear on the certificate.
- RP-HPLC, for purity. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography separates the material by hydrophobicity. The main peak is integrated against total peak area, and that ratio is the purity figure reported on the certificate.
- LC-MS, for identity. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry confirms that the mass of the main peak matches the expected mass for the compound, which distinguishes NAD+ from its reduced form NADH and from related nucleotides.
A complete certificate carries the compound name, the batch number, the test date, the method, the measured purity and the name of the laboratory. If any of those is missing, or the batch number on the vial does not match the certificate, contact us before using the material.
Storing NAD+
Stock is held at −20°C until picking and ships in insulated packaging. Move the vial into freezer storage on arrival and keep it sealed, dry, at −20°C or below, protected from light and moisture. NAD+ is hygroscopic: let the vial reach room temperature before opening so that condensation does not form on the solid, and reseal promptly. Returned promptly to those conditions, the dry solid is the most stable form this material takes.
Preparing stock solutions
Prepare stock solutions in sterile water or an appropriate aqueous buffer at a concentration suited to your assay, expressed in mg/mL. Allow the vial to reach room temperature before opening, add solvent down the vial wall rather than directly onto the solid, and let the material dissolve without vigorous agitation. NAD+ dissolves readily in water. The resulting solution is mildly acidic, so buffer it where your assay depends on pH.
Solutions are less stable than the lyophilized solid. NAD+ in solution is sensitive to light, heat and alkaline pH. Prepare close to the point of use, hold at 2 to 8°C for short periods only, and aliquot before freezing so that repeated freeze and thaw cycles are avoided.
On arrival
Check that the vial is intact and sealed, that the compound name and labeled quantity match your order, and that the batch number on the label matches the certificate published for it. If anything does not match, or the packaging has clearly failed in transit, contact us before using the material. Problems visible on arrival should be reported within 7 days of delivery, with photos of the packaging and the batch label, so that a carrier claim remains possible.
Handling and disposal
Assess the hazards of this material before handling it and use appropriate controls and protective equipment. It has not been characterized toxicologically and should be treated as potentially hazardous. Anyone handling it should be trained for the work.
Dispose of unused material, vials and packaging lawfully and in line with your institution's waste procedures.
Record keeping
Record the batch number in your notes at the point of first use, alongside the date the vial was opened and the concentration of any stock prepared. Certificates are published against the batch number rather than the product, so the batch number is the only reliable link between your results and the analytical data for the material that produced them. If a question arises about a result months later, that link is what keeps the work auditable.