Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 15, 2026

14:32
Deacetylation Assays to Unravel the Interplay between Sirtuins (SIRT2) and Specific Protein-substrates
Published on: February 27, 2016
Sirtuin deacylases: a molecular link between metabolism and immunity
1Laboratory of Immunobiology, Institute for Molecular Biology and Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Gosselies, Belgium.
Journal of Leukocyte Biology
|January 18, 2013
Summary
Sirtuins, NAD(+)-dependent enzymes, regulate cellular processes and survival. Their role in inflammation is complex, with potential for novel therapeutic strategies targeting immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Cellular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Sirtuins are NAD(+)-dependent lysine deacetylases regulating cellular processes.
- These enzymes are linked to cell metabolism, stress response, and diseases like diabetes and cancer.
- Inflammation is connected to metabolism, aging, and immune response, suggesting a role for sirtuins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the immunomodulatory properties of sirtuins.
- To explore the complex and often contrasting roles of sirtuins in immune responses.
- To discuss potential therapeutic strategies for inflammation based on sirtuin activity.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on sirtuins and inflammation.
- Analysis of experimental data on sirtuin function in immune cells.
- Synthesis of findings regarding sirtuin's impact on inflammatory pathways.
Main Results:
- Sirtuins exhibit significant immunomodulatory effects.
- Evidence suggests both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory roles for different sirtuins.
- Sirtuin activity is influenced by cellular metabolism and NAD(+) levels.
Conclusions:
- Sirtuins are key regulators of the immune response with diverse functions.
- Understanding sirtuin's complex roles is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
- Further research may unlock novel therapeutic strategies for inflammatory conditions.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Metabolism
Cellular needs and conditions vary from cell to cell and change within individual cells over time. For example, the required enzymes and energetic demands of stomach cells are different from those of fat storage cells, skin cells, blood cells, and nerve cells. Furthermore, a digestive cell works much harder to process and break down nutrients during the time that closely follows a meal compared with many hours after a meal. As these cellular demands and conditions vary, so do the amounts and...
Sulfur Assimilation
Sulfur is an essential element in biological systems, contributing to synthesizing key biomolecules, including amino acids such as cysteine and methionine, and cofactors such as coenzyme A and biotin. Microorganisms primarily assimilate sulfur as sulfate (SO₄²⁻) from the environment, which must undergo a series of biochemical transformations before it can be incorporated into cellular components. As sulfate is highly oxidized, it must undergo assimilatory sulfate reduction to become...
Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response
Inositol-requiring kinase one or IRE1 is the most conserved eukaryotic unfolded protein response (UPR) receptor. It is a type I transmembrane protein kinase receptor with a distinctive site-specific RNase activity. As the binding mechanics of the misfolded proteins with the N-terminal domain of IRE-1 are unclear, three binding models — direct, indirect, and allosteric -- are proposed for receptor activation. Nevertheless, it is known that once a misfolded protein associates with IRE1, it...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
The transcription factor NF-κB was discovered in 1986 in the lab of Nobel laureate Professor David Baltimore, for its interaction with the immunoglobulin light chain enhancer in B-cells. After more than three decades of study, it is now evident that NF-κB regulates the expression of over 100 genes. Most of these genes play an essential role in the innate and adaptive immune responses as well as the inflammatory responses of animals.
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
Mitochondria
Mitochondria are eukaryotic cellular organelles that are known to produce energy through a process called oxidative phosphorylation. Besides their primary function, mitochondria are involved in various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, signaling, metabolism, and senescence. Age-related changes cause a decline in mitochondrial quality and integrity due to increased mitochondrial mutations and oxidative damage. Thus, aging can severely impact mitochondrial functions,...
Covalently Linked Protein Regulators
Proteins can undergo many types of post-translational modifications, often in response to changes in their environment. These modifications play an important role in the function and stability of these proteins. Covalently linked molecules include functional groups, such as methyl, acetyl, and phosphate groups, and also small proteins, such as ubiquitin. There are around 200 different types of covalent regulators that have been identified.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.
These groups modify specific amino acids in a protein.