title: SIR2: a potential target for calorie restriction mimetics.
abstract: Calorie restriction (CR) extends lifespan in a wide variety of species and mitigates diseases of aging in mammals. Here, we describe the evidence that the silent information regulator 2 (SIR2) gene, which encodes a nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)-dependent deacetylase, regulates lifespan and mediates CR in lower species such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Caenorhabditis elegans. We discuss the emerging roles of mammalian SIR2 homologs in regulating physiological changes triggered by CR and their potential connections to diseases of aging. We conclude with the recent advances on small molecules that activate the enzymatic activity of SIR2 as potential CR mimetics. The SIR2 family represents an evolutionarily conserved lifespan regulator. Modulating the activity of SIR2 might provide effective CR mimetics to combat diseases of aging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
authors.forename: Danica
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Leonard
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guarente
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000502:physiology; D031204:Caloric Restriction; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000209:etiology; D000077185:Resveratrol; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000502:physiology; D037761:Sirtuins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D013267:Stilbenes; D037761:Sirtuins; D000077185:Resveratrol