ERK1/2 regulates SIRT2 deacetylase activity

You Hee Choi1, Hangun Kim, Sung Ho Lee

  • 1College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Drug Development, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, South Korea.

Insights

Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 enhances SIRT2 protein levels, stability, and activity. This study reveals a novel regulatory mechanism for SIRT2 function via ERK1/2 signaling.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Signaling

Background:

  • Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is an NAD-dependent protein deacetylase involved in various cellular processes.
  • Post-translational modifications, including phosphorylation, can modulate SIRT2 function.
  • The specific molecular mechanisms linking SIRT2 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 signaling remain largely unelucidated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the potential regulation of SIRT2 by ERK1/2 signaling.
  • To determine how ERK1/2 activation impacts SIRT2 protein levels, stability, and enzymatic activity.

Main Methods:

  • Over-expression of constitutively active MEK to activate ERK.
  • Treatment with U0126, a mitogen-activated kinase kinase inhibitor.
  • Co-immunoprecipitation assays to assess protein-protein interactions.
  • Measurement of SIRT2 deacetylase activity.

Main Results:

  • ERK activation led to increased SIRT2 protein levels and enhanced stability.
  • Inhibition of ERK signaling reduced SIRT2 protein levels.
  • ERK1/2 was found to interact with SIRT2 both exogenously and endogenously.
  • SIRT2 deacetylase activity was significantly upregulated in an ERK1/2-dependent manner.

Conclusions:

  • ERK1/2 signaling plays a crucial role in regulating SIRT2.
  • ERK1/2 increases SIRT2 protein levels, enhances its stability, and upregulates its deacetylase activity.
  • This study uncovers a novel signaling pathway controlling SIRT2 function, with potential implications for cellular processes regulated by SIRT2.

Related Concept Videos

Regulation of the Unfolded Protein Response01:31

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...
PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway01:22

PI3K/mTOR/AKT Signaling Pathway

The mammalian target of rapamycin  (mTOR) is a serine/threonine kinase that regulates growth, proliferation, and cell survival in response to hormones, growth factors, or nutrient availability. This kinase exists in two structurally and functionally distinct forms: mTOR complex 1  (mTORC1) and mTOR complex 2  (mTORC2). The first form (mTORC1) is composed of a rapamycin-sensitive Raptor and proline-rich Akt substrate, PRAS40. In contrast,  mTORC2 consists of a rapamycin-insensitive companion...
Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting01:45

Regulation of Nuclear Protein Sorting

Nuclear protein sorting regulates nucleus composition and gene expression, crucial for determining the fate of a eukaryotic cell. Hence, the entry and exit of molecules across the nuclear envelope is a tightly controlled process. Nuclear protein sorting can be inhibited by one of the following ways: 1) masking cargo signal sequences, 2) modifying the nuclear receptor's affinity for cargo, 3) controlling the nuclear pore size, 4) retaining the cargo during its transit to the cytosol or the...
Regulated Protein Degradation02:58

Regulated Protein Degradation

It is vital to regulate the activity of enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic proteins inside the cell. This can be achieved either through creating a balance between their rate of synthesis and degradation or regulating the intrinsic activity of the protein. Both these regulation mechanisms play an essential role in the normal functioning of cells.
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
Regulated Protein Degradation02:58

Regulated Protein Degradation

It is vital to regulate the activity of enzymatic as well as non-enzymatic proteins inside the cell. This can be achieved either through creating a balance between their rate of synthesis and degradation or regulating the intrinsic activity of the protein. Both these regulation mechanisms play an essential role in the normal functioning of cells.
Protein degradation plays two important roles in the cells. It helps to protect cells from misfolded or damaged proteins before they lead to a...
Spreading of Chromatin Modifications02:25

Spreading of Chromatin Modifications

The histone proteins in the nucleosomes are post-translationally modified (PTM) to increase or decrease access to DNA. The commonly observed PTMs are methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination of lysine amino acids in the histone H3 tail region. These histone modifications have specific meaning for the cell. Hence, they are called "histone code". The protein complex involved in histone modification is termed as "reader-writer" complex.
Writers
The writer is an enzyme that can...