No abstract

Sirtuin-2 (SIRT2), the cytoplasmic member of the sirtuin family, has been implicated in the deacetylation of nuclear proteins. Although the enzyme has been reported to be located to the nucleus during G2/M phase, its spectrum of targets suggests functions in the nucleus throughout the cell cycle. While a nucleocytoplasmic shuttling mechanism has been proposed for SIRT2, recent studies have indicated the presence of a constitutively nuclear isoform. Here we report the identification of a novel splice variant (isoform 5) of SIRT2 that lacks a nuclear export signal and encodes a predominantly nuclear isoform. This novel isoform 5 fails to show deacetylase activity using several assays, both in vitro and in vivo, and we are led to conclude that this isoform is catalytically inactive. Nevertheless, it retains the ability to interact with p300, a known interaction partner. Moreover, changes in intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence upon denaturation indicate that the protein is properly folded. These data, together with computational analyses, confirm the structural integrity of the catalytic domain. Our results suggest an activity-independent nuclear function of the novel isoform.

No abstract

Research over the last few decades has extended our understanding of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) from a vital redox carrier to an important signalling molecule that is involved in the regulation of a multitude of fundamental cellular processes. This includes DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, gene expression and calcium signalling, in which NAD is a substrate for several families of regulatory proteins, such as sirtuins and ADP-ribosyltransferases. At the molecular level, NAD-dependent signalling events differ from hydride transfer by cleavage of the dinucleotide into an ADP-ribosyl moiety and nicotinamide. Therefore, non-redox functions of NAD require continuous biosynthesis of the dinucleotide. Maintenance of cellular NAD levels is mainly achieved by nicotinamide salvage, yet a variety of other precursors can be used to sustain cellular NAD levels via different biosynthetic routes. Biosynthesis and consumption of NAD are compartmentalised at the subcellular level, and currently little is known about the generation and role of some of these subcellular NAD pools. Impaired biosynthesis or increased NAD consumption is deleterious and associated with ageing and several pathologies. Insults to neurons lead to depletion of axonal NAD and rapid degeneration, partial rescue can be achieved pharmacologically by administration of specific NAD precursors. Restoring NAD levels by stimulating biosynthesis or through supplementation with precursors also produces beneficial therapeutic effects in several disease models. In this review, we will briefly discuss the most recent achievements and the challenges ahead in this diverse research field.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is vital to many cellular processes and is distributed between distinct subcellular pools in the compartmentalized eukaryotic cell. The detection and relative quantification of these individual pools is difficult because of the methods usually applied, which require cell disruption and fractionation.Here, we describe an immunochemical method to visualize and relatively quantify subcellular NAD pools, which relies on the NAD-consuming activity of poly-ADP-ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1). We demonstrate that this system can be readily applied to detect changes in the mitochondrial, Golgi, endoplasmic reticulum, and peroxisomal NAD pools.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP) are two major players in metabolism as they participate as electron carriers in a multitude of redox reactions. Moreover, they act in life and death decisions on a cellular level in all known life forms. NAD and NADP both exist in two states; the oxidized forms are characterized by a positive charge on the nicotinamide (Nam) moiety, denoted NAD+ and NADP+ respectively. The reduced forms are denoted NADH and NADPH (Figure 1).

The coenzyme NAD is consumed by signaling enzymes including poly-ADP-ribose-polymerases (PARPs) and sirtuins. Understanding the mechanisms of aging-associated NAD decline and how cells cope with decreased NAD concentrations requires model systems reflecting chronic NAD deficiency. To evoke compartment-specific over-consumption of NAD, we have engineered cell lines expressing PARP activity in mitochondria, the cytosol, endoplasmic reticulum, or peroxisomes. Irrespective of the compartment targeted, total cellular NAD concentrations declined by ~40%. Isotope-tracer flux measurements and mathematical modeling showed that the lowered NAD concentration limits total NAD consumption kinetically. Moreover, NAD biosynthesis rate and capacity remained unchanged, thereby also precluding an increase of total NAD turnover. The chronic NAD deficiency was surprisingly well tolerated unless the mitochondria were targeted. Oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis were little affected by NAD over-consumption in the other compartments. Likewise, peroxisomal NAD over-consumption was balanced by mitochondrial NAD decrease to maintain beta-oxidation of very long chain fatty acids in peroxisomes. We propose that subcellular NAD pools are interconnected, with mitochondria acting as a rheostat to facilitate NAD-dependent processes in organelles with excessive consumption.