Sirtuins of parasitic protozoa: in search of function(s).
The SIR2 family of NAD(+)-dependent protein deacetylases, collectively called sirtuins, has been of central interest due to their proposed roles in life-span regulation and ageing. Sirtuins are one group of environment sensors of a cell interpreting external information and orchestrating internal responses at the sub-cellular level, through participation in gene regulation mechanisms. Remarkably conserved across all kingdoms of life SIR2 proteins in several protozoan parasites appear to have both conserved and intriguing unique functions. This review summarises our current knowledge of the members of the sirtuin families in Apicomplexa, including Plasmodium, and other protozoan parasites such as Trypanosoma and Leishmania. The wide diversity of processes regulated by SIR2 proteins makes them targets worthy of exploitation in anti-parasitic therapies.
Wellcome Trust Centre for Molecular Parasitology, Institute of Infection, Immunity and Inflammation, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, UK. Agnieszka.Religa@glasgow.ac.uk
Agnieszka A
AA
Religa
Andrew P
AP
Waters
D000818:Animals; D016782:Apicomplexa / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D015800:Protozoan Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D056565:Sirtuin 2 / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D037761:Sirtuins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D015800:Protozoan Proteins; D056565:Sirtuin 2; D037761:Sirtuins