%20is%20essential%20for%20energy%20production,%20metabolism,%20and%20cell%20signaling,%20but%20its%20levels%20naturally%20decline%20with%20age%20and%20disease.%20One%20key%20reason%20for%20this...){kind=link}
Nicotinamide Riboside Inhibits CD38 in Living Cells: Preclinical Findings
Synopsis
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) is essential for energy production, metabolism, and cell signaling, but its levels naturally decline with age and disease. One key reason for this decline is the enzyme CD38, which breaks down NAD+. This study revealed a surprising new function of nicotinamide riboside (NR)—a well-known vitamin B3–derived NAD+ precursor. Researchers discovered that NR not only helps build NAD+ but also directly inhibits CD38, preventing NAD+ degradation. NR does this by forming a stable chemical bond with a key amino acid (glutamate 226) in the CD38 enzyme’s active site. The team also created a modified “clickable” NR molecule that can label and visualize CD38 in live cells, offering a new tool to study its role in health and disease. These findings reveal that NR helps preserve NAD+ levels through dual actions—boosting production and blocking breakdown—opening new possibilities for therapeutic applications in aging, metabolism, and immune regulation.
Journal
JACS Au