De novo NAD⁺ synthesis is ineffective for NAD⁺ supply in axenically cultured Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT: To secure an adequate nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) supply for survival, organisms typically rely on two complementary mechanisms: the de novo synthesis pathway and the salvage pathway. Notably, the classic quinolinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase (QPRTase) for de novo NAD⁺ synthesis is absent in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), despite the reported alternative mechanism involving uridine monophosphate phosphoribosyltransferase (UMPS). However, the effectiveness of this proposed mechanism for NAD⁺ production of C. elegans remains unclear. Here, using a chemically defined medium, we observed that removing NAD⁺ salvage precursors from the medium results in a significant decrease in NAD⁺ levels, causing severe developmenta

SUBMITTER: Zhu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11965519 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature