Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Protection of H9c2 Myocardial Cells from Oxidative Stress by Crocetin via PINK1/Parkin Pathway-Mediated Mitophagy
Published on: May 26, 2023
Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase regulates cell survival through autophagy in cardiomyocytes
Chiao-Po Hsu1, Nirmala Hariharan, Ralph R Alcendor
1Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Institute, UMDNJ, New Jersey Medical School, New Jersey, USA.
Abstract:
Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(+)) acts as a transfer molecule for electrons, thereby acting as a key cofactor for energy production. NAD(+) also serves as a substrate for cellular enzymes, including poly (ADPribose) polymerase (PARP)-1 and Sirt1. Activation of PARP-1 by DNA damage depletes the cellular pool of NAD(+), leading to necrotic cell death. NAD(+) in the nucleus enhances the activity of Sirt1, thereby modulating transcription. NAD(+) is either synthesized de novo from amino acids, namely tryptophan and aspartic acid, or resynthesized from NAD(+) metabolites, such as nicotinamide (NAM), through the salvage pathway. NAM phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the NAD(+) salvage pathway. We have recently demonstrated that Nampt is an important regulator of NAD(+) and autophagy in cardiomyocytes. Here we discuss the role of Nampt in regulating autophagy and potential mechanisms by which NAD(+) regulates autophagy in the heart.
Related Concept Videos
Autophagic Cell Death
Autophagy and Apoptosis
Autophagy can activate apoptosis. In normal conditions, the autophagy activating protein Beclin-1 and pro-apoptotic...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
Cellular Injury V: Apoptosis and Autophagy
Autophagy
An autophagic pathway consists of a series of signaling events activated in response to diverse stress and physiological conditions such as food deprivation,...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway
Delivery Pathways to the Lysosome
Endocytosis
In endocytosis, the cell membrane takes up macromolecules and particles from the surrounding medium. Clathrin-mediated...
