NADPH

Science & Engineering abbreviation · Biology

NADPH
Stands forNicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced)
CategoriesScience & Engineering

NADPH stands for Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (reduced), a biology abbreviation.

Electron carrier that supplies reducing power for building molecules such as fatty acids and cholesterol and for protecting cells against oxidative damage. In photosynthesis, the light reactions produce NADPH that the Calvin cycle uses to fix carbon dioxide into sugar.

Example: Red blood cells rely on NADPH from the pentose phosphate pathway to keep glutathione in its protective form.

Usage notes

NADPH differs from NADH only by an extra phosphate group, which lets cells keep separate pools for energy production and biosynthesis. Deficiency of the enzyme G6PD, which makes NADPH in red cells, is the most common enzyme deficiency in humans and can cause hemolysis after eating fava beans.

More biology abbreviations

  • MIC – Minimum inhibitory concentration
  • MOI – Multiplicity of infection
  • MRCA – Most recent common ancestor
  • mRNA – Messenger RNA
  • NAD – Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide
  • NADH – Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced)
  • NPP – Net primary production
  • OD – Optical density
  • PBS – Phosphate-buffered saline
  • PCR – Polymerase chain reaction
  • PDB – Protein Data Bank
  • PFU – Plaque-forming unit

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