carba Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate: Robust Cofactor for Redox Biocatalysis

Here we report a new robust nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate cofactor analog (carba-NADP⁺) and its acceptance by many enzymes in the class of oxidoreductases. Replacing one ribose oxygen with a methylene group of the natural NADP⁺ was found to enhance stability dramatically. Decomposition experiments at moderate and high temperatures with the cofactors showed a drastic increase in half-life time at elevated temperatures since it significantly disfavors hydrolysis of the pyridinium-N−glycoside bond. Overall, more than 27 different oxidoreductases were successfully tested, and a thorough analytical characterization and comparison is given. The cofactor carba-NADP⁺ opens up the field of redox-biocatalysis under harsh conditions.