Part:BBa_K5371005

SIR2

SIR2 (Silent Information Regulator 2) is a key gene in yeast that plays a significant role in determining the lifespan of mother cells. It encodes an NAD-dependent histone and protein deacetylase, which modifies chromatin structure to regulate gene expression. By removing acetyl groups from histones, SIR2 tightens the packaging of DNA, making it less accessible to transcriptional regulators and enzymes, effectively silencing specific genes. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, SIR2 is involved in various critical cellular processes. It acts as a component of heterochromatin, silencing transcription at silent mating-type loci, telomeres, and ribosomal DNA (rDNA). SIR2 also suppresses recombination within rDNA regions and contributes to genomic stability. Its role in chromatin silencing and recombination suppression is linked directly to extending the yeast's replicative lifespan. Beyond yeast, SIR2 has broader implications for aging and longevity. It was one of the first genes identified to extend lifespan, with early studies in the 1980s showing that extra copies of the SIR2 gene increased longevity not only in yeast but also in multicellular organisms like Caenorhabditis elegans and Drosophila melanogaster. The SIR2 family of proteins, known as sirtuins, has since been recognized for their potential as biomarkers of frailty and aging, due to their role in chromatin remodeling and genomic maintenance.

Sequence and Features

Assembly Compatibility:

• 10
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[10]
• 12
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[12]
• 21
  INCOMPATIBLE WITH RFC[21]

  Illegal BglII site found at 823
  Illegal BamHI site found at 261
  Illegal BamHI site found at 809
  
• 23
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[23]
• 25
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[25]
• 1000
  COMPATIBLE WITH RFC[1000]