Niacin coenzymes

In die physiological system, niacin and related substances maintain nicotinamide adenine diiuicleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine ciinucleotide phosphate (NADP). Niacin also acts as a hydrogen and electron transfer agent in carbohydrate metabolism and furnishes coenzymes for dehydrogenase systems. A niacin coenzyme participates in lipid catabolism, oxidative deamination, and photo synthesis,... 

Biochemically, the niacin coenzymes function as cofactors for a number of dehydrogenases due to their oxidation-reduction capabilities (19,93,96). They are involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fatty acids, and amino acids. Nicotinamide can also participate in nonredox reactions, such as the ribosylation of ADP. 

The niacin coenzymes are water soluble, but their stability is pH dependent (96). The reduced forms, NADH and NADPH, are stable in alkali but are rapidly decomposed in weak mineral acid solutions. In contrast, the oxidized forms, NAD and NADP, are unstable under alkaline conditions but are stable in acid. 

Fu CS, Swendseid ME, Jacob RA, and McKee RW (1989) Biochemical markers for assessment of niacin nutritional status in young men levels of erythrocyte niacin coenzymes and plasma tryptophan./owraa/o/JVMtrifton 119,1945-9. 

NAD tends to be an electron acceptor in catabolic reactions involving the degradation of carbohydrates, fatty acids, ketone bodies, amino acids, and alcohol. NAD is used in energy-producing reactions. NADP, which is cytosolic, tends to be involved in biosynthetic reactions. Reduced NADP is generated by the pentose phosphate pathway (cytosolic) and used by cytosolic pathways, such as fatty acid biosynthesis and cholesterol synthesis, and by ribonucleotide reductase. The niacin coenzymes are used for two-electron transfer reactions. The oxidized form of NAD is NAD". There is a positive charge on the cofactor because the aromatic amino group is a quaternary amine. A quaternary amine participates in four... 

Enzymes with niacin coenzymes in human metabolism (examples of 200 enzymes ). L-Lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27) alcohol dehydrogenase (EC l.l.l.l) glyceraldehyde-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.2.1.12) NADPH-cytochrome-P-450-reductase (EC 1.6.2.4). 

Transport of niacin between the liver and the intestine can occur in vivo, as indicated by radioactive probes in animals, and the liver appears to be a major site of conversion of niacin to its ultimate functional products the nicotinamide nucleotide coenzymes. Nicotinamide can pass readily between the cerebrospinal fluid and the plasma, thus ensuring a supply also to the brain and spinal cord. Liver contains greater niacin coenzyme concentrations than most other tissues, but all metabolically active tissues contain these essential... 

Whereas the measurement of B vitamin status has, in recent years, tended to focus on blood analysis, perhaps mainly because of the convenience of sample collection, the development of blood-based status analysis for niacin has lagged behind that of the other components of the B complex. Some studies have indeed suggested that the erythrocyte concentration of the niacin-derived coenzyme NAD may provide useful information about the niacin status of human subjects that a reduction in the ratio of NAD to NADP to below 1.0 in red cells may provide evidence of niacin deficiency and that a decline in plasma tryptophan levels may indicate a more severe deficiency than a decline in red cell NAD levels. These claims now need to be tested in naturally deficient human populations. The niacin coenzymes can be quantitated either by enzyme-linked reactions or by making use of their natural fluorescence in alkaline solution. 

At present, niacin status is most commonly assessed by the assay of some of the breakdown products of niacin coenzymes in the urine. Of these, -methyl nicotinamide (NMN) is the easiest to measure, because of a convenient conversion in vitro to a fluorescent product, which can then be quantitated without the need for separation. However, more definitive and reliable information can be obtained by the measurement of urinary NMN in conjunction with one or more of the urinary pyridone turnover products (N -methyl-2-pyridone-5-carboxamide and N -methyl-4-pyridone-3-carboxamide), which can be detected and quantitated by UV absorption following high-pressure liquid chromatography. The Interdepartmental Committee on Nutrition for National Defense (USA) selected the criterion of niacin deficiency in humans as an NMN excretion rate of <5.8 tmol (0.8 mg) NMN per day in 24h urine samples. 

Most foods of animal origin contain nicotinamide in the coenzyme form (high bioavialability). Liver and meat are particularly rich in highly bioavailable niacin. Most of the niacin in plants, however, occurs as nicotinic acid in overall lower concentrations and with a lower bioavailability. The major portion of niacin in cereals is found in the outer layer and its bioavailability is as low as 30% because it is bound to protein (niacytin). If the diet contains a surplus of L-tryptophan (Ttp), e.g., more than is necessary for protein synthesis, the liver can synthesize NAD from Trp. Niacin requirements are therefore declared as niacin equivalents (1 NE = 1 mg niacin = 60 mg Trp). 

Niacin. Figure 2 Structure of the coenzymes NAD+ (nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotid) and NADP+ (nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotid phosphate). 

Pyridoxamine phosphate serves as a coenzyme of transaminases, e.g., lysyl oxidase (collagen biosynthesis), serine hydroxymethyl transferase (Cl-metabolism), S-aminolevulinate synthase (porphyrin biosynthesis), glycogen phosphoiylase (mobilization of glycogen), aspartate aminotransferase (transamination), alanine aminotransferase (transamination), kynureninase (biosynthesis of niacin), glutamate decarboxylase (biosynthesis of GABA), tyrosine decarboxylase (biosynthesis of tyramine), serine dehydratase ((3-elimination), cystathionine 3-synthase (metabolism of methionine), and cystathionine y-lyase (y-elimination). 

Vitamin B6-coenzyme is involved in a variety of reactions, e.g., in the immune system, gluconeogenesis, erythrocyte fimction, niacin formation, nervous system, lipid metabolism, and in hormone modulation/gene expression [1, 2]. 

These dehydrogenases use nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD ) or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP )—or both—and are formed in the body from the vitamin niacin (Chapter 45). The coenzymes are reduced by the specific substrate of the dehydrogenase and reoxidized by a suitable electron acceptor (Figure 11-4). They may freely and reversibly dissociate from their respective apoenzymes. 

Niacin Nicotinic acid, nicotinamide Coenzyme in oxidation and reduction reactions, functional part of NAD and NADP Pellagra—photosensitive dermatitis, depressive psychosis... 

Niacin was discovered as a nutrient during studies of pellagra. It is not strictly a vitamin since it can be synthesized in the body from the essential amino acid tryptophan. Two compounds, nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, have the biologic activity of niacin its metabolic function is as the nicotinamide ring of the coenzymes NAD and NADP in oxidation-reduction reactions (Figure 45-11). About 60 mg of tryptophan is equivalent to 1 mg of dietary niacin. The niacin content of foods is expressed as mg niacin equivalents = mg preformed niacin + 1/60 X mg tryptophan. Because most of the niacin in cereals is biologically unavailable, this is discounted. 

Niacin is converted into nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide coenzymes... 

Although the structures for molecules having niacin activity are simple, the forms in which they act in human biochemistry are not so simple. Nicotinic acid and nicotinamide are precursors for three complex coenzymes in multiple oxida-tion/reduction (redox) reactions nicotinamide mononucleotide, NMN nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NAD+ and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, NADP. I shall use NAD+ as representative of the class. NADH is the corresponding reduced form. ... 

Niacin, which refers to nicotinic acid and nicotinamide, is the metabolic precursor to three nicotinamide coenzymes. These are essential for the activity of a large number of enzymes catalyzing redox reactions. Pellagra is a niacin deficiency disease. 

Niacin the generic name for nicotinic acid and nicotinamide precursors for the coenzymes NAD+ and NADP+. 

Nicotinate and nicotinamide, together referred to as niacin, are required for biosynthesis of the coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD"") and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP" ). These both serve in energy and nutrient metabolism as carriers of hydride ions (see pp. 32, 104). The animal organism is able to convert tryptophan into nicotinate, but only with a poor yield. Vitamin deficiency therefore only occurs when nicotinate, nicotinamide, and tryptophan are all simultaneously are lacking in the diet. It manifests in the form of skin damage (pellagra), digestive disturbances, and depression. 

Niacin is present in foods mainly as coenzyme NAD and NADP, which are hydrolyzed in the intestine, and it is adsorbed as nicotinamide or nicotinic acid. The free forms, nicotinamide and nicotinic acid, only allowed to be added in fortified foods [403], occur naturally in limited amounts. Instead, niacin occurs as nicotynil ester bonded to polysaccharides, peptides, and glycopeptides. In general, niacin is widespread in foodstuffs (cereals, seeds, meat, and fish). High concentrations are present in roasted coffee beans as a primarily product of the roasting process [417]. 

Riboflavin (vitamin Bj) is chemically specified as a 7,8-dimethyl-10-(T-D-ribityl) isoalloxazine (Eignre 19.22). It is a precnrsor of certain essential coenzymes, such as flavin mononucleotide (FMN) and flavin-adenine dinucleotide (FAD) in these forms vitamin Bj is involved in redox reactions, such as hydroxylations, oxidative carboxylations, dioxygenations, and the reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide. It is also involved in the biosynthesis of niacin-containing coenzymes from tryptophan. 

The combined dehydrogenation and decarboxylation of pyruvate to the acetyl group of acetyl-CoA (Fig. 16-2) requires the sequential action of three different enzymes and five different coenzymes or prosthetic groups—thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), coenzyme A (CoA, sometimes denoted CoA-SH, to emphasize the role of the —SH group), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD), and lipoate. Four different vitamins required in human nutrition are vital components of this system thiamine (in TPP), riboflavin (in FAD), niacin (in NAD), and pantothenate (in CoA). We have already described the roles of FAD and NAD as electron carriers (Chapter 13), and we have encountered TPP as the coenzyme of pyruvate decarboxylase (see Fig. 14-13). 

Some enzymes associate with a nonprotein cofactor that is needed for enzymic activity. Commonly encountered cofactors include metal ions such as Zn2+ or Fe2+, and organic molecules, known as coenzymes, that are often derivatives of vitamins. For example, the coenzyme NAD+contains niacin, FAD contains riboflavin, and coenzyme A contains pantothenic acid. (See pp. 371-379 for the role of vitamins as precursors of coenzymes.) Holoenzyme refers to the enzyme with its cofactor. Apoenzyme refers to the protein portion of the holoenzyme. In the absence of the appropriate cofactor, the apoenzyme typically does not show biologic activity. A prosthetic group is a tightly bound coenzyme that does not dissociate from the enzyme (for example, the biotin bound to carboxylases, see p. 379). 

Coenzymes The pyruvate dehydrogenase complex contains five coenzymes that act as carriers or oxidants for the intermediates of the reactions shown in Figure 9.3. Ei requires thiamine pyrophosphate, Ep requires lipoic acid and coenzyme A, and E3 requires FAD and NAD+. [Note Deficiencies of thiamine or niacin can cause serious central nervous system problems. This is because brain cells are unable to produce sufficient ATP (via the TCA cycle) for proper function if pyruvate dehydrogenase is inactive.]... 

Vitamins are chemically unrelated organic compounds that cannot be synthesized by humans and, therefore, must must be supplied by the diet. Nine vitamins (folic acid, cobalamin, ascorbic acid, pyridoxine, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin, biotin, and pantothenic acid) are classified as water-soluble, whereas four vitamins (vitamins A, D, K, and E) are termed fat-soluble (Figure 28.1). Vitamins are required to perform specific cellular functions, for example, many of the water-soluble vitamins are precursors of coenzymes for the enzymes of intermediary metabolism. In contrast to the water-soluble vitamins, only one fat soluble vitamin (vitamin K) has a coenzyme function. These vitamins are released, absorbed, and transported with the fat of the diet. They are not readily excreted in the urine, and significant quantities are stored in Die liver and adipose tissue. In fact, consumption of vitamins A and D in exoess of the recommended dietary allowances can lead to accumulation of toxic quantities of these compounds. 

Two vitamins, nicotinamide and pyridoxine (vitamin B6), are pyridine derivatives. Nicotinamide participates in two coenzymes, coenzyme I (65 R = H) which is known variously as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) or diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPN), and coenzyme II (65 R = P03H2) also called triphosphopyridine nucleotide (TPN) or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). These are involved in many oxidation-reduction processes, the quaternized pyridine system acting as a hydrogen acceptor and hydrogen donor. Deficiency of nicotinamide causes pellagra, a disease associated with an inadequately supplemented maize diet. Nicotinic acid (niacin) and its amide are... 

Niacin, a water-soluble vitamin vital for oxidation by living cells, functions in the body as a component of two important coenzymes nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP). NAD and NADP are involved in the release of energy from carbohydrate, fat, and protein, and in the synthesis of protein, fat, and pentoses for nucleic acid formation. Milk is a poor source of preformed niacin, containing about 0.08 mg per 100 g. However, milk s niacin value is considerably greater than indicated by its niacin content (Horwitt et al. 1981). Not only is the niacin in milk fully available, but the amino acid tryptophan in milk can be used by the body for the synthesis of niacin. For every 60 mg of tryptophan consumed, the body synthesizes 1 mg of niacin. Therefore, the niacin equivalents in 100 g milk equal 0.856 mg including that from pre-... 

Several of the B vitamins function as coenzymes or as precursors of coenzymes some of these have been mentioned previously. Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) which, in conjunction with the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, oxidizes ethanol to ethanal (Section 15-6C), also is the oxidant in the citric acid cycle (Section 20-10B). The precursor to NAD is the B vitamin, niacin or nicotinic acid (Section 23-2). Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is a precursor of flavin adenine nucleotide FAD, a coenzyme in redox processes rather like NAD (Section 15-6C). Another example of a coenzyme is pyri-doxal (vitamin B6), mentioned in connection with the deamination and decarboxylation of amino acids (Section 25-5C). Yet another is coenzyme A (CoASH), which is essential for metabolism and biosynthesis (Sections 18-8F, 20-10B, and 30-5A). 

The niacin vitamers in foods include nicotinic acid and nicotinamide (Fig. 4), which occur in limited quantities in the free form, and their coenzymes, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) (93,96). The nicotinic acid analog of NAD as well as nicotinamide and nicotinic acid mononucleotides also occur in nature. In addition, niacin occurs as nicotinyl esters bound to polysaccharides, peptides, and glycopep-tides, which are known as niacytin and niacynogens, respectively. In general, the niacin vitamers in cereal grains and other seeds are principally the nicotinic acid forms, whereas those in meat and fish are primarily the nicotinamide forms (94,95). 

The physiologically active forms of niacin are nicotinic acid, nicotinamide, and their coenzymes (93,96). Niacytin and the niacynogens appear to have limited bioavailability, although more work is needed in this area. The absorption and metabolism of niacin has been reviewed (20,93). 

Niacin Men 16 mg/d Women 14 mg/d Coenzyme or cosubstrate in many biological reactions required for energy metabolism Gastrointestinal distress vasomotor reactions (flushing)... 

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