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Updated: May 9, 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: nodes connecting aging, metabolism and tumorigenesis

Yisha Yao, Yang Yang, Wei-Guo Zhu1

  • 1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular, Biology, Peking University Health Science Center, 38 Xuanyuan Rd., Beijing, 100191, China. zhuweiguo@bjmu.edu.cn.

Current Pharmaceutical Design
|July 30, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Sirtuins, or Sir2-like proteins, are linked to longevity and aging. This review explores their diverse roles and mechanisms, particularly in cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Sirtuins (Sir2-like proteins) are NAD+-dependent enzymes implicated in aging and longevity.
  • Initial research linked yeast Sir2's lifespan extension to gene silencing via histone deacetylation.
  • Mammalian sirtuins (SIRT1-7) exhibit diverse cellular functions and molecular targets.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the multifaceted physiological roles of sirtuins.
  • To elucidate the proposed mechanisms underlying sirtuin functions.
  • To specifically examine the ambiguous roles of sirtuins in cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of sirtuin research.
  • Analysis of sirtuin homologs (SIRT1-7) in mammals.
  • Investigation of sirtuin post-translational modifications and targets.

Main Results:

  • Sirtuins influence multiple physiological processes through diverse post-translational modifications.
  • Evidence suggests sirtuins play complex and varied roles in cancer development and progression.
  • Mechanisms of action, including deacetylation and other modifications, are being elucidated.

Conclusions:

  • Sirtuins are key regulators with broad physiological impacts.
  • Understanding sirtuin functions is crucial for aging and cancer research.
  • Further investigation is needed to clarify sirtuin roles in cancer.

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