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Alexander L

Is NADPH sensitive and unstable in UV light?

Andy Hill  Follow

NADPH isn't destroyed by absorbing 340 nm light; if it were, then spectrophotometry wouldn't be a good technique to monitor its concentration. The primary stability concern with NADPH and NADH is acid-catalyzed decomposition. A great 1986 article summarizing this phenomenon is available here.

Some highlights from the article:

  • At 30 °C, the pseudo-first order rate constant for NADPH degradation in aqueous solution goes from 0.5 min$^{-1}$ at pH ~3 to $10^{-5}$ min$^{-1}$ at pH 10. At pH 7 the rate constant is $10^{-3}$ min$^{-1}$.

  • The rate is elevated slightly by higher concentrations of phosphate buffer, about 10x higher for 1 molar (!) phosphate vs. extrapolation to infinite-dilution phosphate.

A secondary pathway for NAD(P)H decomposition is oxidation by atmospheric air, but it is usually pretty minor compared to acid degradation.

So I don't think there will be a big problem with light destroying your NADPH. You might be able to re-use it, but it depends how long you let it sit in solution, and at what temperature.

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