UDPglucose dehydrogenase. Kinetics and their mechanistic implications.

Initial velocity and product inhibition studies were carried out on UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UDPglucose: NAD+ 6-oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.22) from beef liver to determine if the kinetics of the reaction are compatible with the established mechanism. An intersecting initial velocity pattern was observed with NAD+ as the variable substrate and UDPG as the changing fixed substrate. UDPglucuronic acid gave competitive inhibition of UDPG and non-competitive inhibition of NAD+. Inhibition by NADH gave complex patterns.Lineweaver-Burk plots of 1/upsilon versus 1/NAD+ at varied levels of NADH gave highly non-linear curves. At levels of NAD+ below 0.05 mM, non-competitive inhibition patterns were observed giving parabolic curves. Extrapolation to saturation with NAD+ showed NADH gave linear uncompetitive inhibition of UDPG if NAD+ was saturating. However, at levels of NAD+ above 0.10 mM, NADH became a competitive inhibitor of NAD+ (parabolic curves) and when NAD+ was saturating NADH gave no inhibition of UDPG. NADH was non-competitive versus UDPG when NAD+ was not saturating. These results are compatible with a mechanism in which UDPG binds first, followed by NAD+, which is reduced and released. A second mol of NAD+ is then bound, reduced, and released. The irreversible step in the reaction must occur after the release of the second mol of NADH but before the release of UDPglucuronic acid. This is apparently caused by the hydrolysis of a thiol ester between UDPglucoronic acid and the essential thiol group of the enzyme. Examination of rate equations indicated that this hydrolysis is the rate-limiting step in the overall reaction. The discontinuity in the velocities observed at high NAD+ concentrations is apparently caused by the binding of NAD+ in the active site after the release of the second mol of NADH, eliminating the NADH inhibition when NAD+ becomes saturating.     

Effect of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide on the membrane-associated reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide oxidase of Mycobacterium phlei.

NAD+ had a biphasic effect on the NADH oxidase activity in electron transport particles from Mycobacterium phlei. The oxidase was inhibited competitively by NAD+ at concentrations above 0.05 mM. NAD+ in concentrations from 0.02 to 0.05 mM resulted in maximum stimulation of both NADH oxidation and oxygen uptake with concentrations of substrate both above and below the apparent K-M. Oxygen uptake and cyanide sensitivity indicated that the NAD+ stimulatory effect was linked to the terminal respiratory chain. The stimulatory effect was specific for NAD+. NAD+ was also specific in protecting the oxidase during heating at 50 degrees and against inactivation during storage at 0 degrees. NAD+ glycohydrolase did not affect stimulation nor heat protection of the NADH oxidase activity if the particles were previously preincubated with NAD+. Binding studies revealed that the particles bound approximately 3.6 pmol of [14C1NAD+ per mg of electron transport particle protein. Although bound NAD+ represented only a small fraction of the total added NAD+ necessary for maximal stimulation, removal of the apparently unbound NAD+ by Sephadex chromatography revealed that particles retained the stimulated state for at least 48 hours. Further addition of NAD+ to stimulated washed particles resulted in competitive inhibition of oxidase activity. Desensitization of the oxidase to the stimulatory effect of NAD+ was achieved by heating the particles at 50 degrees for 2 min without appreciable loss of enzymatic activity. Kinetic studies indicated that addition of NADH to electron transport particles prior to preincubation with NAD+ inhibited stimulation. In addition, NADH inhibited binding of [14C]NAD+. The utilization of artificial electron acceptors, which act as a shunt of the respiratory chain at or near the flavoprotein component, indicated that NAD+ acts as at the level of the NADH dehydrogenase at a site other than the catalytic one resulting in a conformational change which causes restoration as well as protection of oxidase activity.     

Electrochemical characterization of immobilized NAD+.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) has been covalently attached to alginic acid using carbodiimide coupling, thereby producing a macromolecular adduct of NAD, which can be rendered either soluble or insoluble by adjustment of pH. It was found that this NAD+-alginic acid complex was enzymatically active, and also that the oxidized form could be electrochemically reduced without loss in enzymatic activity. This NAD+ adduct has now also been polarographically characterized as to its two-step reduction waves, which are slightly shifted toward more cathodic potential as compared to free NAD+. When controlled electrolysis was conducted to reduce the bound NAD+ at the cathode, the NADH so formed by electrochemical action was found to be again oxidizable either enzymatically or electrochemically without loss in co-enzymatic function. The NADH adduct produced by electrochemical reduction of the NAD+ adduct has also been characterized by voltammetry.     

TNF regulates cellular NAD+ metabolism in primary macrophages

The inflammatory cytokine TNF is known to affect glucose and lipid metabolism, where its action leads to a cachexic state. Despite a well-established connection of TNF to metabolism, the relationship between TNF and NAD(+) metabolism remains unclear. In this report, we evaluated the effects of TNF on NAD(+) metabolism in cells that are TNF's primary autocrine target-macrophages. We designed real-time PCR primers to all NAD(+) metabolic enzymes, which we used to examine TNF-induced changes over time. We found that TNF paradoxically up-regulated enzymes that served to increase NAD(+) levels, such as IDO and PBEF, as well as enzymes that decrease NAD(+) levels, such as CD38 and CD157. The significance of these mRNA changes was evaluated by examining TNF-mediated changes in cellular NAD(+) levels. Treatment of macrophages with TNF decreased NAD(+) levels over time, suggesting that increases in NAD(+)-degrading enzymes were dominant. To evaluate whether this was the case, we measured TNF-mediated changes in NAD(+) levels in animals where CD38 was genetically deleted. In CD38-/- macrophages, the effects of TNF were reversed, with TNF increasing NAD(+) levels over time. The significance of our findings is threefold: (1) we establish that TNF affects NAD(+) metabolism by regulating the expression of major NAD(+) metabolic enzymes, (2) TNF-induced decreases in cellular NAD(+) levels were carried out through the up-regulation of extracellularly situated enzymes, and (3) we provide a mechanism for the observed clinical connection of TNF-dependent diseases to tissue reductions in NAD(+) content.     

Permeability of Rickettsia prowazekii to NAD.

Rickettsia prowazekii accumulated radioactivity from [adenine-2,8-3H]NAD but not from [nicotinamide-4-3H]NAD, which demonstrated that NAD was not taken up intact. Extracellular NAD was hydrolyzed by rickettsiae with the products of hydrolysis, nicotinamide mononucleotide and AMP, appearing in the incubation medium in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. The particulate (membrane) fraction contained 90% of this NAD pyrophosphatase activity. Rickettsiae which had accumulated radiolabel after incubation with [adenine-2,8-3H]NAD were extracted, and the intracellular composition was analyzed by chromatography. The cells contained labeled AMP, ADP, ATP, and NAD. The NAD-derived intracellular AMP was transported via a pathway distinct from and in addition to the previously described AMP translocase. Exogenous AMP (1 mM) inhibited uptake of radioactivity from [adenine-2,8-3H]NAD and hydrolysis of extracellular NAD. AMP increased the percentage of intracellular radiolabel present as NAD. Nicotinamide mononucleotide was not taken up by the rickettsiae, did not inhibit hydrolysis of extracellular NAD, and was not a good inhibitor of the uptake of radiolabel from [adenine-2,8-3H]NAD. Neither AMP nor ATP (both of which are transported) could support the synthesis of intracellular NAD. The presence of intracellular [adenine-2,8-3H]NAD within an organism in which intact NAD could not be transported suggested the resynthesis from AMP of [adenine-2,8-3H]NAD at the locus of NAD hydrolysis and translocation.     

NADP and NAD utilization in Haemophilus influenzae

Exogenous NAD utilization or pyridine nucleotide cycle metabolism is used by many bacteria to maintain NAD turnover and to limit energy-dependent de novo NAD synthesis. The genus Haemophilus includes several important pathogenic bacterial species that require NAD as an essential growth factor. The molecular mechanisms of NAD uptake and processing are understood only in part for Haemophilus. In this report, we present data showing that the outer membrane lipoprotein e(P4), encoded by the hel gene, and an exported 5'-nucleotidase (HI0206), assigned as nadN, are necessary for NAD and NADP utilization. Lipoprotein e(P4) is characterized as an acid phosphatase that uses NADP as substrate. Its phosphatase activity is inhibited by compounds such as adenosine or NMN. The nadN gene product was characterized as an NAD-nucleotidase, responsible for the hydrolysis of NAD. H. influenzae hel and nadN mutants had defined growth deficiencies. For growth, the uptake and processing of the essential cofactors NADP and NAD required e(P4) and 5'-nucleotidase. In addition, adenosine was identified as a potent growth inhibitor of wild-type H. influenzae strains, when NADP was used as the sole source of nicotinamide-ribosyl.     

Asymmetric reassociation of calf spleen NAD+ glycohydrolase into liposomes.

NAD+ glycohydrolase (NAD+ nucleosidase, EC 3.2.2.6) can be solubilized from calf spleen microsomes (microsomal fractions) by steapsin or by detergents to yield respectively a hydrophilic (i.e. water-soluble) and a hydrophobic form of the enzyme. The detergent-solubilized enzyme was successfully reassociated into phosphatidylcholine liposomes either by a cholate-dialysis or by a gel-filtration procedure. In both cases the incorporation of NAD+ glycohydrolase was found to be completely asymmetric, i.e. the active site of the enzyme was exposed only at the outer surface of the vesicles. By contrast, as judged by flotation experiments, the hydrophilic form of NAD+ glycohydrolase could not be reassociated into liposomes. These results are in agreement with the hypothesis that calf spleen NAD+ glycohydrolase is an amphipathic protein. When incorporated into large unilamellar vesicles composed of phosphatidylcholine, NAD+ glycohydrolase was not found to catalyse vectorial transfer of NAD+ by transglycosidation with nicotinamide as acceptor.     

NAD[S], an NAD analogue with reduced susceptibility to phosphodiesterase. Chemical synthesis and enzymic properties

The chemical synthesis of adenosine(5') [alpha-thio]diphospho(5')ribofuranosyl-nicotinamide (NAD[S]) is described. The product occurs as a pair of diastereomers with different configuration at the sulfur-bearing phosphorus atom. The diastereomers were separated by high-performance liquid chromatography and their absolute configuration was determined after chemical degradation to the ADP[alpha S] diastereomers and chromatographic comparison with enzymically synthesized ADP[alpha S] diastereomers of known absolute configuration. Additional support for this assignment is based on different rates in the phosphodiesterase-catalyzed hydrolysis. Furthermore the synthesis of [14C]NAD[S] is described. The coenzyme activity of NAD[S] in the reaction with alcohol dehydrogenase from baker's yeast and lactate dehydrogenase from pig heart is very similar to that of beta-NAD. Also, NAD and NAD[S] serve equally well as substrates for NAD glycohydrolase from calf spleen. In contrast, no reaction was detected with NAD pyrophosphorylase, and hydrolysis of the separated NAD[S] diastereomers with snake venom phosphodiesterase showed a 26-fold and a 33-fold slower reaction rate than that of NAD. Nucleotide pyrophosphatase was less sensitive to the S substitution, hydrolyzing NAD[S] 14-times slower than NAD. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase from Ehrlich ascites tumor cell nuclei accepted NAD[S] as a substrate but the reaction was significantly slower and approached saturation at much lower values than with NAD. Alkaline hydrolysis of the products insoluble in trichloroacetic acid yielded AMP[S] as the main derivative. It is concluded that with NAD[S] as a substrate the nuclear acceptors were nearly exclusively mono(ADP-ribosyl) ated .     

NAD recycling in the collagen membrane.

NAD recycling in the collagen membrane was investigated as follows: (1) Alcohol dehydrogenase and lactate dehydrogenase were co-immobilized in the collagen membrane and the rate of lactate production by immobilized enzymes was compared with that of free enzymes by using free NAD. An increased rate was observed in the case of immobilized enzyme. (2) The soluble high molecular weight derivatives of NAD (dextran-NAD) were immobilized in the collagen membrane with the two dehydrogenases and recycling of dextran-NAD in the membrane was examined. Lactate was produced by the membrane without adding free NAD. The interaction between the high molecular weight NAD derivatives and enzymes are also discussed.     

Cellular NAD+ and ATP levels in alkylation-induced cytotoxicity enhanced by an inhibitor of poly(ADP-ribose) synthesis

Alkylating agents cause a marked depletion of cellular NAD+ levels by activating nuclear ADP-ribosyl transferase (ADPRT), which utilizes NAD+ as a substrate in the synthesis of poly(ADP-ribose). As a consequence of NAD+ depletion, it is possible that cellular ATP pools could be depleted. Because of this, exogenously supplied NAD+ had been proposed as a way to counteract some of the effects of an alkylator. We found that exogenously supplied NAD+ significantly increased intracellular levels of NAD+ in MMS- and MNNG-treated V79 Chinese hamster cells. Cytotoxicity was not changed by the exogenously supplied NAD+, however. 3-Aminobenzamide (3-ABA), an ADPRT inhibitor, prevented the depletion of intracellular NAD+ by MMS or MNNG treatment and potentiated cytotoxicity. As was the case without 3-ABA, exogenously supplied NAD+ plus 3-ABA did not change the cytotoxicity, even though NAD+ levels were increased. Intracellular ATP levels were also measured and were found to be unaffected following MMS treatment, and only slightly depleted following MNNG treatment. Exogenously supplied NAD+ raised these levels above those for their respective controls. Because survival was unaffected by elevated levels of NAD+ and ATP, our results suggest that depletion of cellular NAD+ pools following MMS and MNNG treatment is not a critical factor in determining cytotoxicity for these V79 cells. The energy reserves of V79 cells, at doses of MMS or MNNG which kill 99% of the cells, are apparently adequate to maintain normal levels of ATP.     

Utilization and metabolism of NAD by Haemophilus parainfluenzae

The utilization of exogenous nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) by Haemophilus parainfluenzae was studied in suspensions of whole cells using radiolabelled NAD, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), and nicotinamide ribonucleoside (NR). The utilization of these compounds by H. parainfluenzae has the following characteristics. (1) NAD is not taken up intact, but rather is degraded to NMN or NR prior to internalization. (2) Uptake is carrier-mediated and energy-dependent with saturation kinetics. (3) There is specificity for the beta-configuration of the glycopyridine linkage. (4) An intact carboxamide groups is required on the pyridine ring. The intracellular metabolism of NAD was studied in crude cell extracts and in whole cells using carbonyl-14C-labelled NR, NMN, NAD, nicotinamide, and nicotinic acid as substrates in separate experiments. A synthetic pathway from NR through NMN to NAD that requires Mg2+ and ATP was demonstrated. Nicotinamide was found as an end-product of NAD degradation. Nicotinic acid mononucleotide and nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide were not found as intermediates. The NAD synthetic pathway in H. parainfluenzae differs from the Preiss-Handler pathway and the pyridine nucleotide cycles described in other bacteria.     

Stimulatory effect of ADP, ATP, NAD(P) on pyruvate production from malate by uncoupled human placental mitochondria

It has been shown that ADP, ATP, NAD(P), and NAD(P)H significantly stimulate pyruvate production from malate by intact uncoupled human term placental mitochondria. No stimulation by ADP was observed when mitochondria were incubated in the presence of NAD(P) or NAD(P)H or when mitochondrial membrane had been disrupted. Atractyloside and oligomycin were without effect on ADP- and ATP-stimulated pyruvate production. Other dinucleotides tested such as GDP, UDP, and CDP, stimulated pyruvate production only slightly when mitochondria were incubated in the absence of phosphate. The rate of pyruvate production by intact mitochondria is commensurate with partly purified NAD(P)-linked malic enzyme activity as measured by NAD(P) reduction as far as the effects of pH of hydroxymalonate on these both processes is concerned. It is concluded that pyruvate production by intact human placental mitochondria is catalyzed by NAD(P)-linked malic enzyme and that this process is stimulated by ADP and ATP.     

Kinetic mechanisms of two NAD:arginine ADP-ribosyltransferases: the soluble, salt-stimulated transferase from turkey erythrocytes and choleragen, a toxin from Vibrio cholerae

A subunit of choleragen and an erythrocyte ADP-ribosyltransferase catalyze the transfer of ADP-ribose from NAD to proteins and low molecular weight guanidino compounds such as arginine. These enzymes also catalyze the hydrolysis of NAD to nicotinamide and ADP-ribose. The kinetic mechanism for both transferases was investigated in the presence and absence of the product inhibitor nicotinamide by using agmatine as the acceptor molecule. To obtain accurate estimates of kinetic parameters, the transferase and glycohydrolase reactions were monitored simultaneously by using [adenine-2,8-3H]NAD and [carbonyl-14C]NAD as tracer compounds. Under optimal conditions for the transferase assay, NAD hydrolysis occurred at less than 5% of the Vmax for ADP-ribosylation; at subsaturating agmatine concentrations, the ratio of NAD hydrolysis to ADP-ribosylation was significantly higher. Binding of either NAD or agmatine resulted in a greater than 70% decrease in affinity for the second substrate. All data were consistent with a rapid equilibrium random sequential mechanism for both enzymes.     

Overexpression, purification, and characterization of ATP-NAD kinase of Sphingomonas sp. A1

The NAD kinase gene (nadK) of Sphingomonas sp. A1 was cloned and then overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and the gene product (NadK) was purified from the E. coli cells through five steps with a 25% yield of activity. NadK was a homodimer of 32 kDa subunits, utilized ATP or other nucleoside triphosphates, but not inorganic polyphosphates, as phosphoryl donors for the phosphorylation of NAD, most efficiently at pH 8.0 and 50-55 degrees C, and was designated as ATP-NAD kinase (NadK). NadK showed no NADH kinase activity and was slightly inhibited by NADP(H). Precursors for NAD biosynthesis such as quinolinic acid, nicotinic acid mononucleotide, nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide, and nicotinic acid had no effect on the NadK activity, as observed in the cases of the NAD kinases of Micrococcus flavus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and E. coli. Taken together with the report that the NAD kinase of Bacillus subtilis is activated by quinolinic acid [J. Bacteriol. 185 (2003) 4844], it is indicated that the regulatory patterns of NAD kinases differ even among bacterial NAD kinases.     

Characterization of oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) analogues using a high-pressure-liquid-chromatography-based NAD(+)-glycohydrolase assay and comparison with fluorescence-based measurements

A high-pressure-liquid-chromatography (HPLC)-based technique was developed to assess the oxidized nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+))-glycohydrolase activity of the catalytic domain of Pseudomonas exotoxin A containing a hexa-His tag. The assay employs reverse-phase chromatography to separate the substrate (NAD(+)) and products (adenosine 5'-diphosphate-ribose and nicotinamide) produced over the reaction time course, whereby the peak area of nicotinamide is correlated using a standard curve. This technique was used to determine whether the NAD(+) analogue, 2'-F-ribo-NAD(+), was a competing substrate or a competitive inhibitor for this toxin. This NAD(+) analogue was hydrolyzed at a rate of 0.2% that of NAD(+) yet retained the same binding affinity for the toxin as the parent compound. Finally, the rate that a fluorescent NAD(+) analogue, epsilon-NAD(+), is hydrolyzed by the toxin was also investigated. This analogue was hydrolyzed six times slower than NAD(+) as determined using HPLC. The rate of hydrolysis of epsilon-NAD(+) calculated using the fluorometric version of the assay shows a sixfold increase in reaction rate compared to that determined by HPLC. This HPLC-based assay is adaptable to any affinity-tagged enzyme that possesses NAD(+)-glycohydrolase activity and offers the advantage of directly measuring the enzyme-catalyzed hydrolytic rate of NAD(+) and its analogues.     

Binding of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide by the renal brush border membrane from rat kidney cortex

The characteristics of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) binding on brush border membranes prepared from rat renal cortex were investigated with the use of radioactively labelled NAD, [adenine-2,8-3H]NAD+, as a ligand. (1) We found that NAD binds on brush border membrane and that the extent of NAD binding is linearly proportional to the brush border membrane protein, and progressively increases with concentration of NAD in the medium. (2) The rate of NAD binding was dependent on temperature. At 20 degrees C, the equilibrium binding was obtained at 15 min, while NAD binding at 0 degree C was slower, but the final level of binding reached at 120 min was similar to that plateau of binding observed at 20 degrees C. Brush border membrane inactivated by heating at 95 degrees C for 3 min did not bind NAD. Binding of NAD on brush border membranes was reversed by simple dilution or by the addition of unlabelled NAD. Both alpha-NAD and beta-NAD stereoisomers displaced bound [3H]NAD. Reduced NAD (NADH) caused less displacement of bound NAD than oxidized NAD+. Adenine, nicotinamide, pyrophosphate, of 5'-AMP did not displace bound NAD. (3) The NAD binding to brush border membranes was nearly saturable, approximating saturation at 10(-4) M NAD. Kinetic analysis by Scatchard plot indicates two sets of NAD binding sites in brush border membranes: a high-affinity binding site (Kd = 1.9 . 10(-5) M) and a low-affinity binding site (Kd = 2.2 . 10(-3) M). (4) Unlike concentrative uptake of D-[14C]glucose by brush border membrane vesicles, binding of NAD was not dependent on the presence of an outside-in sodium gradient [Na+0 greater than Na+i], nor was it abolished by repeated freezing and thawing of brush border membranes. Unlike D-[14C]glucose uptake, NAD binding by brush border membranes did not change upon decrease of intravesicular volume in hypertonic media. These observations indicate that NAD association with brush border membranes is true binding rather than intravesicular uptake of this compound. (5) The presence of specific binding sites in renal brush border membrane capable of binding of NAD with a high degree of affinity suggests that such sites may be involved in previously observed (Kempson, S.A., Colon-Otero, G., Ou, S.L., Turner, S.T. and Dousa, T.P. (1981) J. Clin. Invest. 67, 1347) modulatory effect of NAD on sodium-gradient-dependent uptake of phosphate across luminal brush border membrane of proximal tubules.     

Transport of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide in an unc mutant of Escherichia coli.

The presence and some properties of an NAD+ transport system were examined in PA5, a Mg, Ca-ATPase [EC 3.6.1.3]-defective mutant strain of Escherichia coli W2252. NAD+ uptake was stimulated by exogenous energy sources and dependent on external substrate concentrations with an apparent Km of about 25 micrometer. Most of the radioactivity from [14C]-NAD+ accumulated in the cells was identified as NAD+. [14C]NAD+ uptake was competively inhibited by unlabeled NAD+, NADP+, NMN+ or nicotinamide. Similar uptake activity was also observed in W2252.     

Nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide pyrophosphatase in the growing and aging mosquito

1. The disappearance of pyridine nucleotides during incubation with mosquito homogenates proceeds through the hydrolysis of the pyrophosphate linkage of these compounds as demonstrated by the formation of NMN and AMP from NAD(+). This reaction was also demonstrated by the loss in the coenzyme functioning property of NAD(+) (yeast alcohol dehydrogenase reaction) without a concomitant loss in reactivity towards cyanide. Transglycosidase activity was not observed in the mosquito homogenates, and low concentrations of nicotinamide did not inhibit the NAD(+) splitting activity of these homogenates. These observations are all in accord with the presence in these homogenates of a NAD(+) pyrophosphatase rather than a NADase. 2. The NAD(+) pyrophosphatase is destroyed by boiling, is not heat-activated, and has a pH optimum at pH8.75. In addition to NAD(+), other dinucleotides such as NADP(+), the 3-acetylpyridine and thionicotinamide analogues of NAD(+) and the thionicotinamide analogue of NADP(+), function as substrates in the hydrolysis catalysed by the pyrophosphatase. 3. A decrease in the specific activity of NAD(+) pyrophosphatase was observed during larval development, and a barely detectable activity was found in the pupa and adult. 4. Enzyme activity per organism increased in the larva but decreased to a very low value in the pupa and adult. These results indicate that the decrease in specific activity was due to a decrease in enzyme concentration rather than an increase in amounts of protein.     

Nicotinate, quinolinate and nicotinamide as precursors in the biosynthesis of nicotinamide–adenine dinucleotide in barley

1. The relative efficiencies of nicotinate, quinolinate and nicotinamide as precursors of NAD(+) were measured in the first leaf of barley seedlings. 2. In small amounts, both [(14)C]nicotinate and [(14)C]quinolinate were quickly and efficiently incorporated into NAD(+) and some evidence is presented suggesting that NAD(+) is formed from each via nicotinic acid mononucleotide and deamido-NAD. 3. [(14)C]Nicotinamide served equally well as a precursor of NAD(+) and although significant amounts of [(14)C]NMN were detected, most of the [(14)C]NAD(+) was derived from nicotinate intermediates formed by deamination of [(14)C]nicotinamide. 4. Radioactive NMN was also a product of the metabolism of [(14)C]nicotinate and [(14)C]quinolinate but most probably it arose from the breakdown of [(14)C]NAD(+). 5. In barley leaves where the concentration of NAD(+) is markedly increased by infection with Erysiphe graminis, the pathways of NAD(+) biosynthesis did not appear to be altered after infection. A comparison of the rates of [(14)C]NAD(+) formation in infected and non-infected leaves indicated that the increase in NAD(+) content was not due to an increased rate of synthesis.