254 - Effect of the Adenine Moiety on the Electrochemical Behavior of Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide; Possible Reduction of the Adenine

Abstract

The presence of the adenine moiety very markedly affects the adsorption phenomena at the solution|electrode interface associated with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) in aqueous media. Furthermore, a number of effects seen on the electrochemical reduction of NAD+ may be associated with faradaic reduction of the adenine. Such a reduction, which has been postulated as an initial step in the pulse radiolysis of NAD+, helps to rationalize the reversible reduction of adsorbed NAD+, where the ultimate reduction site, i.e., the pyridine ring, is separated from the solution|electrode interface by the adenine ring. The adenine moiety also participates in a redox couple with mercury.