Sirt6 deacetylase activity regulates circadian rhythms via Per2

Circadian clock relies on a transcription and translation feedback loop (TTFL). Two transcription factors, i.e. Bmal1 and Clock, activate the transcription of Period (Per) and Cryptochrome (Cry), which inhibit their own transcription when accumulated to a critical concentration. NAD⁺-dependent deacylase Sirt1 deacetylates Bmal1 and Per2 to regulate circadian rhythms. Sirt6 interacts with Bmal1 to regulate clock-controlled gene (CCG) expression by local chromatin remodeling. Whether Sirt6 directly modify clock components is elusive. Here, we found that loss of Sirt6 jeopardizes circadian phase. At molecular level, Sirt6 interacts with and deacetylates Per2, thus preventing its proteasomal degradation. These data highlight an important function of Sirt6 in the direct regulation of TTFL and circadian rhythms.