NAD+ and Glutathione: Antioxidant Peptide Research Explained

Cellular oxidative stress and energy metabolism are at the heart of longevity and ageing research. Two compounds — NAD+ and glutathione — are fundamental to these pathways, and both are now available as research compounds from HPLC Peps.

NAD+: The Cellular Energy Coenzyme

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) is a critical cellular coenzyme found in all living cells. It functions in two key ways:

1. As an electron carrier — NAD+ shuttles electrons in redox reactions, particularly in glycolysis, the citric acid cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation. This makes it essential for cellular ATP production.
2. As a sirtuin substrate — NAD+ serves as a substrate for sirtuin enzymes (SIRT1–SIRT7), which are studied for their role in DNA repair, chromatin remodelling, and longevity signalling.

In research models, declining NAD+ levels are associated with reduced sirtuin pathway activity and impaired mitochondrial function. Researchers from Cambridge to Glasgow study NAD+ supplementation to understand its effects on cellular energy metabolism and sirtuin pathway activation.

Glutathione: The Master Antioxidant

Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide composed of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. It is one of the most abundant intracellular antioxidants and functions through several key mechanisms:

1. Glutathione peroxidase system — Glutathione serves as a substrate for glutathione peroxidase, which reduces hydrogen peroxide and lipid hydroperoxides.
2. Glutathione transferase system — Glutathione conjugates with xenobiotics and endogenous compounds through glutathione S-transferase enzymes, supporting cellular detoxification.
3. Redox signalling — The ratio of reduced glutathione (GSH) to oxidised glutathione (GSSG) is a key indicator of cellular redox status.

The NAD+/Glutathione Connection

NAD+ and glutathione are interconnected in cellular redox signalling. NADPH (generated from NADP+) is required to recycle oxidised glutathione (GSSG) back to its reduced form (GSH) through glutathione reductase. This means NAD+ metabolism directly influences the cellular antioxidant capacity of glutathione.

Researchers studying oxidative stress and longevity pathways often investigate both compounds together, as they represent complementary arms of the cellular redox defence system.

Mitochondrial Peptides: SS-31 and MOTS-c

Two additional compounds in our Coming Soon range target mitochondrial function directly:

• SS-31 (Elamipretide) — A mitochondria-targeted tetrapeptide that selectively accumulates in the inner mitochondrial membrane and stabilises cardiolipin, studied for mitochondrial function and oxidative stress research.
• MOTS-c — A 16-amino acid mitochondrial-derived peptide that activates AMPK signalling, studied for metabolic regulation and insulin sensitivity research.

Purity and Verification

All antioxidant and metabolic research compounds from HPLC Peps are independently tested by Janoshik at 99%+ HPLC purity with published Certificates of Analysis. Researchers from Oxford to Belfast, Leeds to Cardiff, and across the UK trust HPLC Peps as their peptide supplier UK for the highest purity research compounds.

Coming Soon

NAD+, glutathione, SS-31, and MOTS-c are all part of our Coming Soon range. Sign up for stock notifications on each product page to be notified when these compounds become available.

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For laboratory research use only. Not for human consumption, medical diagnosis, or treatment.