Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide:
- Flavin adenine dinucleotide is a redox-active coenzyme found in a range of proteins that participate in metabolic enzymatic processes.
- The reaction begins with the conversion of riboflavin to flavin mononucleotide, which is mediated by riboflavin kinase.
- The dinucleotide nomenclature is therefore deceptive; yet, the flavin mononucleotide group is physically and chemically extremely similar to a nucleotide.
- Flavin Adenine Dinucleotide is light, acid, and basic sensitive.
Uses of FAD:
- Flavin adenine dinucleotide is an electron acceptor during the oxidation of succinate in the citric acid cycle.
- Reduced anionic flavin adenine dinucleotide is the critical cofactor in DNA photolyase (PL) to repair cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD) in UV-damaged DNA.
- Dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase uses FAD to transfer reducing equivalents to NAD.
- It also serves in the processes like nucleotide biosynthesis, beta-oxidation of fatty acids, amino acid catabolism, as well as the synthesis of other cofactors such as CoA, CoQ, and heme groups.