NAD+ Research Compound | Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide for Canadian Researchers

Description

NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) is a dinucleotide coenzyme present in every living cell, where it carries electrons in redox reactions and serves as a substrate for NAD+-consuming enzymes. Performance Peptides Canada supplies NAD+ as a lyophilized research compound in 500mg and 1000mg vials, shipped from within Canada, for laboratory research use only. This page covers its chemical identity, its role in published research, how to prepare and verify a stock solution, and how to store it.

What is NAD+?

NAD+ is the oxidized form of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme built from two nucleotides (one containing adenine, one containing nicotinamide) joined by a pyrophosphate bridge. It is not a peptide: it contains no amino acids, which is why its handling requirements differ from the peptides in our catalogue.

Chemical profile

Property	Value
Name	Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, oxidized (NAD+)
Molecular formula	C21H27N7O14P2
Molecular weight	663.43 g/mol (free acid); 685.41 g/mol (sodium salt)
CAS number	53-84-9
Physical form	Lyophilized white powder
Vial sizes	500mg, 1000mg

Because NAD+ is chemically distinct from peptides, the way researchers use it in experiments also differs, which the next section outlines.

How is NAD+ used in laboratory research?

In laboratory research, NAD+ is studied as both a redox cofactor and a consumed substrate. As a cofactor, NAD+ accepts electrons in glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and is reduced to NADH, which passes those electrons to the mitochondrial electron transport chain. The NAD+/NADH ratio is therefore a common readout of a cell’s redox state.

As a substrate, NAD+ is cleaved by three enzyme families that researchers study closely:

• Sirtuins (SIRT1 to SIRT7): NAD+-dependent deacylases involved in gene regulation and metabolic signalling.
• Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs): enzymes that consume NAD+ during the cellular response to DNA strand breaks.
• CD38 and CD157: NAD+-hydrolyzing enzymes and a major route of NAD+ turnover in tissue.

Published reviews report that tissue NAD+ levels decline with age in rodent and human studies, which has made NAD+ metabolism a focus of ageing research (Covarrubias et al., 2021; Verdin, 2015). Since these experiments depend on knowing exactly how much NAD+ is in solution, stock preparation is the next consideration.

How do you prepare an NAD+ stock solution from a 500mg or 1000mg vial?

To prepare an NAD+ stock solution, dissolve the lyophilized powder in sterile water at a defined volume, then confirm the concentration by UV absorbance. NAD+ is highly water-soluble and should dissolve with gentle swirling; avoid vigorous shaking.

Stock concentration by vial size

NAD+ is supplied as a lyophilized powder either as the free acid (663.43 g/mol) or as a sodium salt (685.41 g/mol). Both look identical as a white freeze-dried powder, so the table shows the molarity for each:

Vial	Volume of sterile water	Concentration	Molarity (free acid)	Molarity (sodium salt)
500mg	10 mL	50 mg/mL	75.4 mM	72.9 mM
500mg	20 mL	25 mg/mL	37.7 mM	36.5 mM
1000mg	20 mL	50 mg/mL	75.4 mM	72.9 mM
1000mg	40 mL	25 mg/mL	37.7 mM	36.5 mM

The difference between the two forms is about 3%. Measuring absorbance, described below, gives the exact molarity of the prepared stock regardless of form.

Verifying concentration and oxidation state

NAD+ can be quantified independently with a standard UV spectrophotometer:

1. Dilute an aliquot of stock into neutral buffer to roughly 50 µM (for a 50 mg/mL stock, a 1:1,500 dilution).
2. Read absorbance at 260 nm in a 1 cm cuvette. With a molar extinction coefficient of 18,000 M⁻¹cm⁻¹, a 50 µM solution reads approximately 0.9.
3. Read absorbance at 340 nm. NAD+ does not absorb at 340 nm, while its reduced form NADH does (6,220 M⁻¹cm⁻¹). A reading close to zero indicates the material has not been reduced to NADH.

Once the concentration is confirmed, how the solution is stored determines how long that figure stays accurate.

How should NAD+ be stored?

Store lyophilized NAD+ desiccated at −20 °C and protected from light; once in solution, refrigerate for short-term use or aliquot and freeze. The solid is hygroscopic, so keep the vial sealed until use and allow it to reach room temperature before opening to limit moisture uptake.

Form	Condition	Guidance
Lyophilized solid	−20 °C, desiccated, dark	Recommended long-term storage
Solution, neutral pH	2 to 8 °C	About one week
Solution	−20 °C, single-use aliquots	Longer-term storage; avoid repeated freeze-thaw
Solution, alkaline pH	Any	Degrades rapidly; avoid

Supplier technical data for β-NAD reports that solutions decompose at alkaline pH and are stable for about one week at 4 °C at neutral pH (Sigma-Aldrich). Planning storage around experiment length also helps when choosing between the two vial sizes.

Which NAD+ vial size fits your research?

The 500mg vial suits single studies and method development, while the 1000mg vial suits longer series run from one batch. Running a full study series from a single 1000mg vial removes batch-to-batch variation as a variable. For smaller studies, the 500mg vial limits the amount of reconstituted material that has to be stored. Both sizes are supplied as the same lyophilized compound and ship domestically within Canada, so there are no cross-border customs delays (see domestic shipping vs customs in Canada).

NAD+ research FAQ

Is NAD+ a peptide?

No. NAD+ is a dinucleotide coenzyme made of two nucleotides joined by phosphate groups. It contains no amino acids, so it is not a peptide, although it is often studied alongside mitochondrial peptides such as MOTS-c and SS-31.

What is the difference between NAD+ and NADH?

NAD+ is the oxidized form that accepts electrons; NADH is the reduced form that donates them. They can be told apart by absorbance: only NADH absorbs at 340 nm.

Is NAD+ shipped from within Canada?

Yes. All NAD+ orders are fulfilled domestically by Performance Peptides Canada, with no cross-border customs clearance.

Is this NAD+ intended for human or animal use?

No. This product is sold strictly for in vitro laboratory research. It is not a drug, natural health product or supplement, and is not for human or animal consumption.

For general handling guidance across our catalogue, see the peptide reconstitution and storage guide and lyophilization science.

Key takeaways

• NAD+ is a dinucleotide coenzyme (C21H27N7O14P2, CAS 53-84-9), not a peptide.
• Research uses NAD+ as a redox cofactor and as a substrate for sirtuins, PARPs and CD38.
• A 500mg vial in 10 mL of sterile water gives a 50 mg/mL stock (about 73 to 75 mM depending on form); confirm by absorbance at 260 nm.
• A near-zero reading at 340 nm confirms the material has not been reduced to NADH.
• Store the solid desiccated at −20 °C; keep solutions at neutral pH and use within about one week refrigerated.
• Supplied in 500mg and 1000mg vials, shipped within Canada, for laboratory research use only.

References

1. Covarrubias AJ, Perrone R, Grozio A, Verdin E. NAD+ metabolism and its roles in cellular processes during ageing. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology. 2021;22:119-141. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7963035/
2. Verdin E. NAD+ in aging, metabolism, and neurodegeneration. Science. 2015;350(6265):1208-1213.
3. National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (CID 5892). https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/5892
4. Sigma-Aldrich. β-Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, oxidized form (product 481911), preparation and stability notes. https://www.sigmaaldrich.com/CA/en/product/mm/481911