Heat Shock and Caloric Restriction Have a Synergistic Effect on the Heat Shock Response in a sir2.1-dependent Manner in Caenorhabditis elegans

The heat shock response (HSR) is responsible for maintaining cellular and organismal health through the regulation of proteostasis. Recent data demonstrating that the mammalian HSR is regulated by SIRT1 suggest that this response may be under metabolic control. To test this hypothesis, we have determined the effect of caloric restriction in Caenorhabditis elegans on activation of the HSR and have found a synergistic effect on the induction of hsp70 gene expression. The homolog of mammalian SIRT1 in C. elegans is Sir2.1. Using a mutated C. elegans strain with a sir2.1 deletion, we show that heat shock and caloric restriction cooperate to promote increased survivability and fitness in a sir2.1-dependent manner. Finally, we show that caloric restriction increases the ability of heat shock to preserve movement in a polyglutamine toxicity neurodegenerative disease model and that this effect is dependent on sir2.1.     

Unstructured conformations are a substrate requirement for the Sir2 family of NAD-dependent protein deacetylases

The regulation of protein function is often achieved through post-translational modifications including phosphorylation, methylation, ubiquitination, and acetylation. The role of acetylation has been most extensively studied in the context of histones, but it is becoming increasingly evident that this modification now includes other proteins. The Sir2 family of NAD-dependent deacetylases was initially recognized as mediating gene silencing through histone deacetylation, but several family members display non-nuclear sub-cellular localization and deacetylate non-histone protein substrates. Although many structural and enzymatic studies of Sir2 proteins have been reported, how substrate recognition is achieved by this family of enzymes is unknown. Here we use in vitro deacetylase assays and a variety of potential substrates to examine the substrate specificity of yeast homologue Hst2. We show that Hst2 is specific for acetyl-lysine within proteins; it does not deacetylate small polycations such as acetyl-spermine or acetylated amino ter-mini of proteins. Furthermore we have found that Hst2 displays conformational rather than sequence specificity, preferentially deacetylating acetyl-lysine within unstructured regions of proteins. Our results suggest that this conformational requirement may be a general feature for substrate recognition in the Sir2 family.     

SIRT2 regulates adipocyte differentiation through FoxO1 acetylation/deacetylation

The family of mammalian Sirtuin proteins comprises seven members homologous to yeast Sir2. Here we show that SIRT2, a cytoplasmic sirtuin, is the most abundant sirtuin in adipocytes. Sirt2 expression is downregulated during preadipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. Overexpression of SIRT2 inhibits differentiation, whereas reducing SIRT2 expression promotes adipogenesis. Both effects are accompanied by corresponding changes in the expression of PPARgamma, C/EBPalpha, and genes marking terminal adipocyte differentiation, including Glut4, aP2, and fatty acid synthase. The mechanism underlying the effects of reduced SIRT2 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes includes increased acetylation of FOXO1, with direct interaction between SIRT2 and FOXO1. This interaction enhances insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of FOXO1, which in turn regulates FOXO1 nuclear and cytosolic localization. Thus, Sirt2 acts as an important regulator of adipocyte differentiation through modulation of FOXO1 acetylation/phosphorylation and activity and may play a role in controlling adipose tissue mass and function.     

SIRT1与基因转录

 SIRT1（silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1）是一种具有NAD-依赖的蛋白去乙酰化酶活性的多功能转录调节因子.在体内通过对几种控制代谢及内分泌信号的转录因子去乙酰化作用来调节其活性.从而广泛参与调控哺乳动物细胞寿命的不同信号通路及糖代谢,胰岛素分泌等多条代谢通路,预示着SIRT1在医学临床应用和研究中可能极具应用价值.