Abstract

Raw data of paper entitled "Characterisation of NADH fluorescence properties under different environmental conditions and single-photon excitation" Abstract Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) is the principal electron donor in glycolysis and oxidative metabolism and is thus recognized as a key biomarker for probing metabolic state. While the fluorescence characteristics of NADH have been investigated extensively, there are discrepancies in the published data due to diverse experimental conditions, instrumentation and microenvironmental parameters that can affect NADH fluorescence. Using a cuvette-based time-resolved spectrofluorimeter employing single-photon excitation at 375 nm, we characterised the fluorescence intensity, lifetime, spectral response, anisotropy and time-resolved anisotropy of NADH in aqueous solution under varying microenvironmental conditions, namely temperature, pH, and binding partners. Our results demonstrate how temperature, pH, and binding partners each impact the fluorescence signature of NADH and highlight the complexity of the fluorescence data when different parameters produce competing effects. We hope that the data presented in this study will provide a reference for potential sources of variation in experiments measuring NADH fluorescence.