Crystal Structure Gives Insights into Sirtuin Function

One site on the enzyme was bound to a derivative of a molecule called NAD, while a second site was bound to a specific site on a histone protein.

"The sirtuins, whether we find them in bacteria, yeast, or humans, all rely on another molecule called NAD, required primarily for metabolism, to do their jobs,” explained senior author Dr. Ronen Marmorstein, a professor at the Wistar Institute (Philadelphia, PA, USA). "There is only so much NAD available at any given time, however, and if it is being used by the enzymes involved in metabolic processes, it may not be available to the sirtuins whose job it is to shut down unnecessary gene expression. The resulting unchecked genetic activity would expend needless energy, promote the production of genetic abnormalities, and may well be implicated in the aging process.”





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