§ Glossary · biology

Sirtuin

A family of NAD+-dependent deacetylase enzymes implicated in longevity and metabolic regulation.

Sirtuins are a family of seven NAD+-dependent deacetylases (SIRT1 through SIRT7) found across all kingdoms of life. They remove acetyl groups from histones and other proteins, regulating gene expression, mitochondrial biogenesis, autophagy, and DNA repair. SIRT1 in particular is a central node in the longevity research literature — it senses cellular NAD+ availability and modulates downstream pathways including FOXO transcription factors and PGC-1α (mitochondrial biogenesis). Sirtuin activity declines with age in lockstep with NAD+ decline, which is the mechanistic basis for NAD+ precursor supplementation research.

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