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Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Deacetylation Assays to Unravel the Interplay between Sirtuins (SIRT2) and Specific Protein-substrates
14:32

Deacetylation Assays to Unravel the Interplay between Sirtuins (SIRT2) and Specific Protein-substrates

Published on: February 27, 2016

Sirtuins: critical regulators at the crossroads between cancer and aging

L R Saunders1, E Verdin

  • 1Gladstone Institute of Virology and Immunology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.

Oncogene
|August 19, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Sirtuins (SIRTs 1-7) are enzymes involved in aging and cellular stress. This review explores their dual role in preventing cancer while also potentially driving its growth, highlighting them as therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Sirtuins (SIRTs 1-7), also known as class III histone deacetylases (HDACs), are enzymes that modify proteins through acetylation or ADP-ribosylation.
  • These enzymes are conserved across species and play a role in regulating lifespan, with implications for age-related diseases like cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted roles of sirtuins in cancer development and progression.
  • To discuss the potential of sirtuins as both protective agents against cancer and as therapeutic targets for cancer treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies investigating sirtuin function in cellular stress responses, DNA repair, and senescence.
  • Analysis of research on the involvement of sirtuins in various cancer types.
  • Examination of sirtuins as potential targets for novel cancer therapies.

Main Results:

  • Sirtuins regulate cellular responses to stress, DNA damage, and senescence, contributing to cancer prevention.
  • Specific sirtuins are implicated in promoting the growth and survival of certain cancers.
  • The dual role of sirtuins presents both challenges and opportunities for cancer therapy.

Conclusions:

  • Sirtuins are critical regulators of cellular homeostasis and aging, with significant implications for cancer.
  • Understanding the specific roles of each sirtuin in different cancer contexts is crucial for therapeutic development.
  • Sirtuins represent promising targets for novel cancer prevention and treatment strategies.

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