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Updated: Jul 8, 2026

Deacetylation Assays to Unravel the Interplay between Sirtuins (SIRT2) and Specific Protein-substrates
Published on: February 27, 2016
hSIR2(SIRT1) functions as an NAD-dependent p53 deacetylase
H Vaziri1, S K Dessain, E Ng Eaton
1Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
Abstract:
DNA damage-induced acetylation of p53 protein leads to its activation and either growth arrest or apoptosis. We show here that the protein product of the gene hSIR2(SIRT1), the human homolog of the S. cerevisiae Sir2 protein known to be involved in cell aging and in the response to DNA damage, binds and deacetylates the p53 protein with a specificity for its C-terminal Lys382 residue, modification of which has been implicated in the activation of p53 as a transcription factor. Expression of wild-type hSir2 in human cells reduces the transcriptional activity of p53. In contrast, expression of a catalytically inactive hSir2 protein potentiates p53-dependent apoptosis and radiosensitivity. We propose that hSir2 is involved in the regulation of p53 function via deacetylation.
Insights
The human gene hSIR2 (SIRT1) protein deacetylates and inhibits the tumor suppressor p53. This deacetylation regulates p53
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Cellular Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- DNA damage triggers p53 acetylation, leading to cell growth arrest or apoptosis.
- The hSIR2 (SIRT1) protein, a human homolog of yeast Sir2, is implicated in aging and DNA damage response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of hSIR2 (SIRT1) in regulating p53 protein activity.
- To determine if hSIR2 (SIRT1) directly interacts with and modifies p53.
Main Methods:
- Studied the interaction between hSIR2 (SIRT1) and p53 in human cells.
- Assessed the effect of wild-type and catalytically inactive hSIR2 (SIRT1) on p53 transcriptional activity.
- Measured p53-dependent apoptosis and radiosensitivity.
Main Results:
- hSIR2 (SIRT1) binds to and deacetylates p53, specifically at the C-terminal Lys382 residue.
- Expression of wild-type hSIR2 (SIRT1) reduces p53 transcriptional activity.
- Inactive hSIR2 (SIRT1) enhances p53-dependent apoptosis and radiosensitivity.
Conclusions:
- hSIR2 (SIRT1) negatively regulates p53 function through deacetylation.
- SIRT1 plays a critical role in the DNA damage response pathway by modulating p53 activity.
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