Photooxidation of NADH by 2,3-butanedione: a potential source of error in studies on active site arginyl residues

Incubation of NADH or NADPH with 2,3-butanedione in aqueous solution results in photooxidation of the reduced pyridine nucleotides under conditions of ordinary laboratory lighting. Maximum rates of photooxidation are obtained at pH 7 and with light at a wavelength of 410 nm. This reaction could lead to artifactual results in experiments on the role of arginyl groups in enzymes in which a reduced pyridine nucleotide is used to protect the active site residues from modification by 2,3-butanedione.