NADPH

NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, reduced form) is a coenzyme—a molecular workhorse in living cells that carries high-energy electrons and hydrogen atoms. Think of it as cellular currency: cells spend energy to create NADPH, then use it to power biosynthetic reactions and defend against oxidative stress.

NADPH is produced primarily during the light-dependent reactions of Photosynthesis in chloroplasts, where it captures energy from sunlight. Plants use this NADPH immediately to build sugars through carbon fixation. In all organisms, NADPH fuels genetic material synthesis, fatty acid production, and antioxidant defenses via enzymes like glutathione reductase.

The molecule's structure—a nucleotide derivative containing adenine and phosphate groups—makes it perfectly suited for electron transfer. Its "reduced" form (the PH part) means it's loaded with chemical energy, ready to donate electrons to whatever needs building or protecting.

Without NADPH, cells cannot grow, reproduce, or handle environmental stress. It's one of biochemistry's most fundamental currencies, connecting light capture to life's molecular construction projects.

Related

Photosynthesis, Chloroplast, Enzyme, Redox reaction, ATP, Glutathione