SIRT5 promotes cell proliferation and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma by targeting E2F1
MOLECULAR MEDICINE REPORTS
Authors: Chang, Liang; Xi, Liang; Liu, Yubin; Liu, Rui; Wu, Zhongshi; Jian, Zhixiang
Abstract
Sirtuin 5 (SIRT5) is a member of the NAD(+)-dependent class III protein deacetylases. Although it is known that SIRT5 deacetylates and activates urate oxidase in the liver mitochondria of mice, the mechanism of SIRT5 in the proliferation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains to be fully elucidated. The present study investigated the expression and functional significance of SIRT5 in HCC, and examined the relevant mechanism. SIRT5 was found to be upregulated in HCC tissues and cell lines, and the higher expression of SIRT5 indicated poorer overall survival. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, western blot analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis, and luciferase reporter gene, proliferation and Transwell assays were performed to elucidate the function of SIRT5 in the regulation of cell proliferation and invasion in human HCC. Functionally, it was observed that the inhibition of SIRT5 significantly suppressed HCC cell proliferation and invasion, whereas the overexpression of SIRT5 promoted HCC cell proliferation and invasion in vitro. E2F transcription factor 1 (E2F1) was identified as a novel target gene of SIRT5. In addition, the knockdown of SIRT5 induced the expression of E2F1, and the knockdown of E2F1 in HCC cells partially reversed the effect of SIRT5 in promoting cell proliferation and invasion. Collectively, these data provide the first evidence, to the best of our knowledge, that the SIRT5 gene has an important regulatory role in liver carcinogenesis, and may function as a novel potential therapeutic target for HCC.
Genealogy of an ancient protein family: the Sirtuins, a family of disordered members
BMC EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Authors: Costantini, Susan; Sharma, Ankush; Raucci, Raffaele; Costantini, Maria; Autiero, Ida; Colonna, Giovanni
Abstract
Background: Sirtuins genes are widely distributed by evolution and have been found in eubacteria, archaea and eukaryotes. While prokaryotic and archeal species usually have one or two sirtuin homologs, in humans as well as in eukaryotes we found multiple versions and in mammals this family is comprised of seven different homologous proteins being all NAD-dependent de-acylases. 3D structures of human SIRT2, SIRT3, and SIRT5 revealed the overall conformation of the conserved core domain but they were unable to give a structural information about the presence of very flexible and dynamically disordered regions, the role of which is still structurally and functionally unclear. Recently, we modeled the 3D-structure of human SIRT1, the most studied member of this family, that unexpectedly emerged as a member of the intrinsically disordered proteins with its long disordered terminal arms. Despite clear similarities in catalytic cores between the human sirtuins little is known of the general structural characteristics of these proteins. The presence of disorder in human SIRT1 and the propensity of these proteins in promoting molecular interactions make it important to understand the underlying mechanisms of molecular recognition that reasonably should involve terminal segments. The mechanism of recognition, in turn, is a prerequisite for the understanding of any functional activity. Aim of this work is to understand what structural properties are shared among members of this family in humans as well as in other organisms. Results: We have studied the distribution of the structural features of N- and C-terminal segments of sirtuins in all known organisms to draw their evolutionary histories by taking into account average length of terminal segments, amino acid composition, intrinsic disorder, presence of charged stretches, presence of putative phosphorylation sites, flexibility, and GC content of genes. Finally, we have carried out a comprehensive analysis of the putative phosphorylation sites in human sirtuins confirming those sites already known experimentally for human SIRT1 and 2 as well as extending their topology to all the family to get feedback of their physiological functions and cellular localization. Conclusions: Our results highlight that the terminal segments of the majority of sirtuins possess a number of structural features and chemical and physical properties that strongly support their involvement in activities of recognition and interaction with other protein molecules. We also suggest how a multisite phosphorylation provides a possible mechanism by which flexible and intrinsically disordered segments of a sirtuin supported by the presence of positively or negatively charged stretches might enhance the strength and specificity of interaction with a particular molecular partner.