NADberoende

NADberoende, also known as Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide dependence, refers to a phenomenon where certain biological processes or enzymes require the presence of NAD+ or its reduced form, NADH, to function. NAD is a crucial coenzyme found in all living cells, playing a vital role in a vast array of metabolic reactions, including energy production through cellular respiration and glycolysis. It also participates in DNA repair, gene expression, and cell signaling pathways.

When a process is described as "NAD-dependent," it signifies that the molecule's activity is directly linked to the availability of NAD+ or NADH. For instance, sirtuins, a class of enzymes involved in aging and metabolism, are NAD-dependent. Their activity increases when NAD+ levels are high, and decreases when NAD+ levels are low. Similarly, many dehydrogenases, enzymes that catalyze oxidation-reduction reactions, rely on NAD+ as an electron acceptor or NADH as an electron donor.

Disruptions in NAD+ metabolism, leading to either a deficiency or an excess of NAD+ at the cellular level, can have significant consequences for cellular health and function. Research into NAD-dependent pathways is ongoing, with implications for understanding and potentially treating various age-related diseases and metabolic disorders. The ability to modulate NAD+ levels or influence NAD-dependent enzymes is an active area of scientific investigation.