Post-translational modifications of nuclear sirtuins

Abstract

Silent information regulator proteins (SIRT), or sirtuins, are evolutionarily conserved NAD⁺-dependent deacetylases and ADP-mono-ribosyltransferases. In mammalian, seven sirtuins have been identified, namely SIRT1–7, with different subcellular localization. Nuclear sirtuins, including SIRT1, SIRT6 and SIRT7, localize predominantly in the nucleus and are implicated in many vital biological processes, including stress response, transcription, genome maintenance, tumorigenesis and aging. Dysregulation of nuclear sirtuins is associated with the development of many diseases, including cancer and metabolic disorders. Therefore, the activities of nuclear sirtuins must be properly regulated. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge on the post-translational modifications of nuclear sirtuins and discuss how these modifications modulate their functions.