Abstract
In diverse organisms, calorie restriction slows the pace of ageing and increases maximum lifespan. In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, calorie restriction extends lifespan by increasing the activity of Sir2 (ref. 1), a member of the conserved sirtuin family of NAD(+)-dependent protein deacetylases. Included in this family are SIR-2.1, a Caenorhabditis elegans enzyme that regulates lifespan, and SIRT1, a human deacetylase that promotes cell survival by negatively regulating the p53 tumour suppressor. Here we report the discovery of three classes of small molecules that activate sirtuins. We show that the potent activator resveratrol, a polyphenol found in red wine, lowers the Michaelis constant of SIRT1 for both the acetylated substrate and NAD(+), and increases cell survival by stimulating SIRT1-dependent deacetylation of p53. In yeast, resveratrol mimics calorie restriction by stimulating Sir2, increasing DNA stability and extending lifespan by 70%. We discuss possible evolutionary origins of this phenomenon and suggest new lines of research into the therapeutic use of sirtuin activators.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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Acetylation / drug effects
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Caloric Restriction
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Catalysis / drug effects
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Cell Line
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Cell Survival / drug effects
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Cellular Senescence / drug effects
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Flavonoids*
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Histone Deacetylases / genetics
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Histone Deacetylases / metabolism
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Humans
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Kinetics
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Longevity / drug effects
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Phenols / pharmacology
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Polymers / pharmacology
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Polyphenols
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Recombination, Genetic / drug effects
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Resveratrol
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / cytology
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / drug effects*
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
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Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism*
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Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae / agonists*
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Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
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Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae / metabolism
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Sirtuin 1
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Sirtuin 2
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Sirtuins / agonists*
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Sirtuins / genetics
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Sirtuins / metabolism
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Stilbenes / pharmacology*
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / metabolism
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Wine
Substances
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Flavonoids
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Phenols
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Polymers
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Polyphenols
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Silent Information Regulator Proteins, Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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Stilbenes
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Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
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SIR2 protein, S cerevisiae
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SIRT1 protein, human
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Sirtuin 1
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Sirtuin 2
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Sirtuins
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Histone Deacetylases
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Resveratrol