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Updated: Dec 24, 2025

Deacetylation Assays to Unravel the Interplay between Sirtuins SIRT2 and Specific Protein-substrates
Published on: February 27, 2016
Structural Insight into the Interactions between Structurally Similar Inhibitors and SIRT6
Shuang Zhao1, Yan-Yan Zhu1, Xiao-Yu Wang1
1Department of Mathematics and Physics, Shanghai University of Electric Power, Shanghai 20090, China.
Abstract:
Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) is an NAD+-dependent deacetylase with a significant role in 20% of all cancers, such as colon cancers and rectal adenocarcinoma. However, there is currently no effective drug for cancers related to SIRT6. To explore potential inhibitors of SIRT6, it is essential to reveal details of the interaction mechanisms between inhibitors and SIRT6 at the atomic level. The nature of small molecules from herbs have many advantages as inhibitors. Based on the conformational characteristics of the inhibitor Compound 9 (Asinex ID: BAS13555470), we explored the natural molecule Scutellarin, one compound of Huang Qin, which is an effective herb for curing cancer that has been described in the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCMS) library. We investigated the interactions between SIRT6 and the inhibitors using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We illustrated that the structurally similar inhibitors have a similar binding mode to SIRT6 with residues-Leu9, Phe64, Val115, His133 and Trp188. Hydrophobic and π-stacking interactions play important roles in the interactions between SIRT6 and inhibitors. In summary, our results reveal the interactive mechanism of SIRT6 and the inhibitors and we also provide Scutellarin as a new potential inhibitor of SIRT6. Our study provides a new potential way to explore potential inhibitors from TCMS.
Insights
Scutellarin, a natural compound, shows potential as a Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) inhibitor for cancer treatment. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed its binding mechanism, offering a new avenue for drug discovery from Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
- Computational Chemistry
Background:
- Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) is implicated in various cancers, including colon and rectal adenocarcinoma, yet effective drugs are lacking.
- Understanding atomic-level interactions between SIRT6 and inhibitors is crucial for developing targeted therapies.
- Natural products offer a promising source for identifying novel anticancer agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the potential of Scutellarin, a natural compound from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as a Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6) inhibitor.
- To elucidate the molecular interactions between SIRT6 and structurally similar inhibitors at the atomic level.
- To explore the utility of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) resources for discovering novel cancer therapeutics.
Main Methods:
- Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to study the interactions between SIRT6 and potential inhibitors.
- Conformational analysis of Compound 9 (Asinex ID: BAS13555470) guided the selection of Scutellarin.
- Binding modes and key interacting residues were identified through simulation analysis.
Main Results:
- Scutellarin demonstrated a similar binding mode to SIRT6 as other inhibitors, interacting with key residues like Leu9, Phe64, Val115, His133, and Trp188.
- Hydrophobic and π-stacking interactions were identified as critical for the binding of inhibitors to SIRT6.
- The study identified Scutellarin as a novel potential inhibitor of SIRT6, highlighting its therapeutic promise.
Conclusions:
- The study reveals the interactive mechanism between SIRT6 and its inhibitors at an atomic level.
- Scutellarin is proposed as a new potential inhibitor for Sirtuin 6 (SIRT6)-related cancers.
- This research provides a novel strategy for identifying potential anticancer drugs from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) resources.
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