Chemistry of gene silencing: The mechanism of NAD+-dependent deacetylation reactions

A. A. Sauve, I. Celic, J. Avalos, H. Deng, J. D. Boeke, V. L. Schramm

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

271 Scopus citations

Abstract

The Sir2 enzyme family is responsible for a newly classified chemical reaction, NAD+-dependent protein deacetylation. New peptide substrates, the reaction mechanism, and the products of the acetyl transfer to NAD+ are described for SIR2. The final products of SIR2 reactions are the deacetylated peptide and the 2′ and 3′ regioisomers of O-acetyl ADP ribose (AADPR), formed through an α-1′-acetyl ADP ribose intermediate and intramolecular transesterification reactions (2′ → 3′). The regioisomers, their anomeric forms, the interconversion rates, and the reaction equilibria were characterized by NMR, HPLC, 18O exchange, and MS methods. The mechanism of acetyl transfer to NAD+ includes (1) ADP ribosylation of the peptide acyl oxygen to form a high-energy O-alkyl amidate intermediate, (2) attack of the 2′-OH group on the amidate to form a 1′,2′ -acyloxonium species, (3) hydrolysis to 2′-AADPR by the attack of water on the carbonyl carbon, and (4) an SIR2-independent transesterification equilibrating the 2′- and 3′-AADPRs. This mechanism is unprecedented in ADP-ribosyl transferase enzymology. The 2′-and 3′-AADPR products are candidate molecules for SIR2-initiated signaling pathways.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)15456-15463
Number of pages8
JournalBiochemistry
Volume40
Issue number51
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 25 2001
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Biochemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Chemistry of gene silencing: The mechanism of NAD+-dependent deacetylation reactions'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this