Stress-dependent regulation of FOXO transcription factors by the SIRT1 deacetylase

Science. 2004 Mar 26;303(5666):2011-5. doi: 10.1126/science.1094637. Epub 2004 Feb 19.

Abstract

The Sir2 deacetylase modulates organismal life-span in various species. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Sir2 increases longevity are largely unknown. We show that in mammalian cells, the Sir2 homolog SIRT1 appears to control the cellular response to stress by regulating the FOXO family of Forkhead transcription factors, a family of proteins that function as sensors of the insulin signaling pathway and as regulators of organismal longevity. SIRT1 and the FOXO transcription factor FOXO3 formed a complex in cells in response to oxidative stress, and SIRT1 deacetylated FOXO3 in vitro and within cells. SIRT1 had a dual effect on FOXO3 function: SIRT1 increased FOXO3's ability to induce cell cycle arrest and resistance to oxidative stress but inhibited FOXO3's ability to induce cell death. Thus, one way in which members of the Sir2 family of proteins may increase organismal longevity is by tipping FOXO-dependent responses away from apoptosis and toward stress resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis
  • Cell Cycle
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Nucleus / metabolism
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Cerebellum / cytology
  • Forkhead Box Protein O3
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • GADD45 Proteins
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Histone Deacetylases / genetics
  • Histone Deacetylases / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Neurons / cytology
  • Oxidative Stress*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Sirtuin 1
  • Sirtuins / genetics
  • Sirtuins / metabolism*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Transcription, Genetic

Substances

  • Forkhead Box Protein O3
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • FoxO3 protein, mouse
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • SIRT1 protein, human
  • Sirt1 protein, mouse
  • Sirtuin 1
  • Sirtuins
  • Histone Deacetylases