Title:NAD Metabolism and Functions: A Common Therapeutic Target for Neoplastic, Metabolic and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Volume: 13
Issue: 23
Author(s): Giuseppina Di Stefano, Marcella Manerba and Marina Vettraino
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Age-related diseases, cancer, energy metabolism, pyridine nucleotides, redox balance, redox-mediated signalling.
Abstract: In recent years the study of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) biochemistry has been the focus of attention
for many researchers. Although the role of NAD in cellular metabolism and in redox reactions had been recognized
for over a century, it was also during these recent studies that the precise identification of all NAD biosynthetic routes was
achieved and that the variety of NAD controlled cellular processes began to emerge. Being vital not only for energy transduction,
but also for intracellular signaling pathways, this pyridine nucleotide can be considered the most important link
between energetic and regulatory processes. The control of such important events suggested NAD as a possible therapeutic
target for the control of different pathological states, including metabolic disorders and neoplastic transformation. This
review briefly summarizes the recent advances achieved in this field.