Acid-Catalyzed Oxidation of Reduced Pyridine Nucleotides

Abstract

Reduced pyridine nucleotides are oxidatively catalyzed in weakly acidic solutions. The rate is proportional to the acidity, and at constant acidic pH, the reaction follows first-order kinetics. The rate of oxidation of reduced triphosphopyridine nucleotide is approximately 3 times that of reduced diphosphopyridine nucleotide. The reaction offers a very plausible explanation for the metabolic efficiency of the malignant tumor cell. It may also play a key role in wound healing and muscle contraction.