Role of Sirtuins in Maintenance of Genomic Stability: Relevance to Cancer and Healthy Aging.

Author: Wu X1, Cao N1, Fenech M2, Wang X1
Affiliation:
11 School of Life Sciences, The Engineering Research Center of Sustainable Development and Utilization of Biomass Energy, Ministry of Education, Yunnan Normal University , Kunming, Yunnan, China .
22 Genome Health and Personalized Nutrition, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization Food and Nutrition , Adelaide, South Australia, Australia .
Conference/Journal: DNA Cell Biol.
Date published: 2016 Oct
Other: Volume ID: 35 , Issue ID: 10 , Pages: 542-575 , Word Count: 156


Genomic instability and epigenetic alterations are distinct hallmarks shared by cancer and aging. Sirtuins (SIRTs) are class III histone deacetylases that regulate gene expression in response to cellular metabolic status. SIRTs can modulate chromatin function through direct deacetylation of histones and by promoting altered methylation of histones and DNA, leading to repression of transcription. They can also interact and deacetylate a broad range of transcription factors and coregulators, thereby regulating target gene expression both positively and negatively. SIRT inhibition may be beneficial in decreasing the risk of some cancers, while SIRT activation can exert positive antiaging effects and help prevent age-related disease and cancers. Thus, SIRT modulation may positively affect the treatment of cancer and age-related disorders. In this study, we review emerging data on the effects of SIRTs as important regulators of genomic stability and explain the biological roles of SIRTs in cancer and aging.

KEYWORDS: SIRTs; gene expression; histone deacetylases; longevity

PMID: 27380140 DOI: 10.1089/dna.2016.3280

BACK