X-ray study of the lithium complex of NAD+

Abstract
The Li+·NAD+ complex exists as a ‘dimer’ of two molecules arranged head-to-tail with Li+ coordinated tetrahedrally to adenine N(7) and three pyrophosphate oxygens. Adenine is stacked intermolecularly on nicotinamide. The conformation of NAD+ is ‘extended’ and similar to that found in holoenzyme complexes. This is in contrast to the ‘folded’ structure proposed from spectroscopic studies.