Naturally fluorescent molecules may serve as cancer biomarker

Excess amounts of a naturally fluorescent molecule found in all living cells could serve as a natural biomarker for cancer, according to bioengineers. NADH, or nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, is a key coenzyme - a non-protein molecule necessary for the functioning of an enzyme - found mostly in the inner membrane of a cell's power plant, or mitochondria. It fuels a series of biochemical reactions that involve various enzymes to produce ATP, the major energy source in cells. In the event of disease or a metabolic disorder, these enzymes and their related reactions can become disabled, causing a buildup of unused NADH...

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