Final answer:
NAD+ and NADP+ function as vital oxidation coenzymes in biological oxidation-reduction reactions by accepting electrons and hydrogens, thus forming NADH and NADPH, which contribute to ATP production.
Step-by-step explanation:
Oxidation-reduction reactions, often called redox reactions, are processes where electrons are transferred between molecules, significantly impacting the energy balance within a cell. Coenzymes like Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+) and Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide Phosphate (NADP+) play essential roles as electron carriers in these reactions.
Specifically, NAD⁺ and NADP+ are utilized as oxidation coenzymes in various biological redox reactions. They accept electrons and hydrogen ions (H+) during the oxidation of molecules, converting to their reduced forms, NADH and NADPH, respectively. These reduced compounds carry high-energy electrons, which are then used in the production of ATP, the primary energy currency of the cell.
Redox reactions involving the functional groups such as C=O (carbonyl) often relate to NADH, whereas reactions involving C=C (alkenes) typically relate to FADH₂. Both NAD+/NADH and FAD/FADH2 are crucial during the catabolism of sugars, while NADP+/NADPH is important for anabolic processes and photosynthesis.