BST1 regulates nicotinamide riboside metabolism via its glycohydrolase and base-exchange activities

Nicotinamide riboside (NR) is one of the orally bioavailable NAD(+) precursors and has been demonstrated to exhibit beneficial effects against aging and aging-associated diseases. However, the metabolic pathway of NR in vivo is not yet fully understood. Here, we demonstrate that orally administered NR increases NAD(+) level via two different pathways. In the early phase, NR was directly absorbed and contributed to NAD(+) generation through the NR salvage pathway, while in the late phase, NR was hydrolyzed to nicotinamide (NAM) by bone marrow stromal cell antigen 1 (BST1), and was further metabolized by the gut microbiota to nicotinic acid, contributing to generate NAD(+) through the Preiss-Handler pathway. Furthermore, we report BST1 has a base-exchange activity against both NR and nicotinic acid riboside (NAR) to generate NAR and NR, respectively, connecting amidated and deamidated pathways. Thus, we conclude that BST1 plays a dual role as glycohydrolase and base-exchange enzyme during oral NR supplementation.

Automated summary

Nicotinamide riboside increases NAD(+) levels through two pathways, directly generating NAD(+) via the NR salvage pathway and contributing to NAD(+) production through the Preiss-Handler pathway after being hydrolyzed by BST1.