Malate is oxidized to pyruvate and CO2, and NAD+ is reduced to NADH.

This enzyme belongs to the family of oxidoreductases, to be specific, those acting on the CH-OH group of donor with NAD+ or NADP+ as acceptor.

The systematic name of this enzyme class is (S)-malate:NAD+ oxidoreductase (decarboxylating).

This enzyme participates in pyruvate metabolism and carbon fixation.

NAD-malic enzyme is one of three decarboxylation enzymes used in the inorganic carbon concentrating mechanisms of C4 and CAM plants.