Sirtuin

sirtuin

Sirtuins are a family of proteins found in many organisms, from bacteria to humans. They act mainly as enzymes that remove certain chemical groups from other proteins, which changes how those proteins behave. Most sirtuins need a molecule called NAD+ to work, linking their activity to a cell's energy status. By modifying proteins, sirtuins influence gene activity, DNA repair, metabolism, and how cells respond to stress. Researchers became interested in sirtuins because they seem to play a role in how animals age and how long they live. They help cells cope with low energy, protect DNA, and keep mitochondria—the cell’s power plants—working efficiently. This makes them relevant to conditions like metabolic diseases, neurodegeneration, inflammation, and age-related decline. Scientists are studying how changing sirtuin activity might treat disease or mimic some benefits of calorie restriction. A number of experimental drugs and naturally occurring compounds can influence sirtuins, but translating those findings into safe, effective therapies is still a challenge. Understanding sirtuins helps explain how metabolism, environment, and genetics interact to influence health over a lifetime.