Myo-Inositol is a vitamin added to promote growth in plant cell culture media. It can also be used to differentiate organisms based on metabolic properties. Myo-inositol is a component of membrane phospholipids.

N-Acetyl-L-cysteine, or N-acetylcysteine (abbreviated NAC) is an acid derivative of L-cysteine capable of reducing free radicals and complexing palladium, helping it dissolve in water. Biofilms of certain pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter cloacae are broken down by NAC, giving it bactericidal properties.

β-Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) plays a major role in metabolism as a cofactor and mobile electron acceptor. NAD+ is a required oxidizing cosubstrate for many enzymes. It is reduced to NADH (Cat# N-035) which carries electrons to the electron transport chain for subsequent oxidative phorphorylation and ATP production. NAD+ is capable of donating ADP-ribose moieties to a protein, producing nicotinamide in the process. Sirtuin enzymes use NAD+ as a substrate to deacetylate proteins and direct activity between the nucleus and mitochondria. NAD+ is regenerated by fermentation and by oxidative phosphorylation.

Reduced β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) plays a major role in metabolism as a cofactor in redox reactions and as a mobile electron carrier. NADH is a high energy compound that donates electrons to the electron transport chain to provide energy for ATP production by oxidative phosphorylation. NADH is a required oxidizing cosubstrate in fermentation, which regenerates NAD (Cat# N-030). NADH is fluorescent, which provides for a relatively simple way to detect NADH in biological samples. NADH is also used in enzyme cycling assays to detect relevant biological molecules in tissues.

Nicotinamide is a metabolized amide form of vitamin B3. It is an anti-cancer agent and inhibitor of PARP-1, which is responsible for repairing DNA damage caused by chemotherapy. Nicotinamide is converted to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) for use in biological redox reactions. Additionally, nicotinamide is a nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) substrate and anti-inflammatory agent.

Pyruvic acid is the simplest alpha-keto acid, and is considered to be key in several metabolic processes. Because pyruvate, which is the carboxylate ion of pyruvic acid, can be converted into carbohydrates, fatty acids or energy, it is a uniting intermediate compound and its fate depends on the organism and environment.

It is produced during glycolysis, and through the Krebs cycle (citric acid cycle), it supplies cells with energy. Two molecules of pyruvate are produced from one glucose molecule. Pyruvate is then converted into acetyl-coenzyme A used in the Krebs cycle.

In gluconeogenesis, pyruvic acid can be converted back into glucose or glycogen, and in environments with low oxygen, pyruvic acid is broken down anaerobically into lactic acid.

Clinically, the lactate-to-pyruvate ratio can assist in diagnosing mitochondrial respiratory chain disorders because the ratio is often, but not always elevated in these cases. There is also a lower ratio typically observed in inherited pyruvate metabolic disorders.

Sodium taurocholate is the sodium salt of taurocholic acid, a bile acid composed of cholic acid and taurine. It has many microbiological uses, and is a well-known recipe component of MacConkey agar.

It is also often used to solubilize lipids and membrane proteins, as well as functioning as an activator during studies involving different types of lipases.

Spermidine trihydrochloride is a polyamine that inhibits neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and binds and precipitates DNA. It may be used to purify DNA binding proteins. Additionally, spermidine stimulates T4 polynucleotide kinase activity. It is involved in growth, development, and the stress response in plants.

Spermine is a polyamine derived from spermidine. It is involved in the cellular metabolism of all eukaryotic cells, as well as being vital to some bacteria.

Due to its polycationic nature, nonviral gene therapy applications involving spermine have shown promising results. This has had a positive impact in cancer research involving the lungs.

Gene transfer within the lungs is met with many obstacles due to inflammatory and immunological responses. Using spermine as a gene delivery vehicle to transfect living cells has bypassed some of these obstacles, showing higher gene expression.

Spermine tetrahydrochloride is used to precipitate DNA from low salt aqueous buffers. In the neurological system it exhibits neuroprotective effects at high concentrations and neurotoxicity at lower concentrations. Spermine itself can also act as a regulator of gene expression and a cell and DNA damage inhibitor by scavenging free radicals.