Cited by 1,111Sirtuins and Resveratrol in MedicineTelomeres, Telomerase, and SenescenceNuclear Structure and Function

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SIRT6 is a histone H3 lysine 9 deacetylase that modulates telomeric chromatin

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Abstract

The Sir2 deacetylase regulates chromatin silencing and lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In mice, deficiency for the Sir2 family member SIRT6 leads to a shortened lifespan and a premature ageing-like phenotype. However, the molecular mechanisms of SIRT6 function are unclear. SIRT6 is a chromatin-associated protein, but no enzymatic activity of SIRT6 at chromatin has yet been detected, and the identity of physiological SIRT6 substrates is unknown. Here we show that the human SIRT6 protein is an NAD+-dependent, histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) deacetylase that modulates telomeric chromatin. SIRT6 associates specifically with telomeres, and SIRT6 depletion leads to telomere dysfunction with end-to-end chromosomal fusions and premature cellular senescence. Moreover, SIRT6-depleted cells exhibit abnormal telomere structures that resemble defects observed in Werner syndrome, a premature ageing disorder. At telomeric chromatin, SIRT6 deacetylates H3K9 and is required for the stable association of WRN, the factor that is mutated in Werner syndrome. We propose that SIRT6 contributes to the propagation of a specialized chromatin state at mammalian telomeres, which in turn is required for proper telomere metabolism and function. Our findings constitute the first identification of a physiological enzymatic activity of SIRT6, and link chromatin regulation by SIRT6 to telomere maintenance and a human premature ageing syndrome.

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TL;DR

Human SIRT6 is an NAD+-dependent histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9) deacetylase that associates with telomeres in S phase and maintains low H3K9 acetylation there. SIRT6 depletion causes telomere dysfunction, chromosomal end-to-end fusions, and premature cellular senescence, and impairs WRN association at telomeric chromatin, linking SIRT6 to telomere maintenance and Werner syndrome-like defects.

Key findings

  • SIRT6 knockdown in WI-38 human fibroblasts shortened replicative lifespan, causing premature senescence about ten population doublings before controls, with increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining; two independent SIRT6 shRNAs reproduced this, while irrelevant shRNAs did not.
  • SIRT6-depleted cells showed elevated telomere dysfunction-induced foci, non-recurrent chromosomal end-to-end fusions that were more pronounced at later population doublings, and Werner syndrome-like telomere abnormalities including sister telomere loss, telomere doublets, and weak or absent telomere signals at fusion sites; mean telomere length was not significantly reduced.
  • SIRT6 deacetylated H3K9Ac specifically among tested acetylated histone peptides, with no deacetylation detected for 12 other acetylated histone peptides; the catalytic mutant H133Y markedly decreased activity. SIRT6 knockdown caused H3K9 hyperacetylation at telomeric chromatin in S phase, and S6KO mouse cells also showed telomeric H3K9 hyperacetylation.
  • SIRT6 was required for stable WRN association at telomeric chromatin; SIRT6 knockdown significantly inhibited WRN association in U2OS and IMR90 cells. Telomerase expression reversed premature senescence, whereas augmenting base excision repair did not, and low oxygen culture did not prevent senescence.

Methods

  • Retrovirus-mediated shRNA knockdown of SIRT6 in WI-38, IMR90, U2OS, and HeLa cells, with replicative senescence assays, SA-β-gal staining, immuno-FISH TIF assays, metaphase cytogenetics/SKY/telomere FISH, and cell-cycle flow cytometry.
  • Telomere chromatin immunoprecipitation (T-ChIP) after thymidine synchronization and release, using antibodies against SIRT6, Flag, WRN, and H3K9Ac, with telomeric DNA detected by slot blot.
  • In vitro histone deacetylation assays with recombinant SIRT6 and acetylated histone tail peptides or full-length histones, including mass spectrometry; 293T cells were transfected with wild-type or H133Y SIRT6 and analyzed by Western blotting.

Limitations

  • Stated: SIRT6 showed only modest in vitro deacetylation activity on H3K9Ac peptides, and no direct SIRT6-WRN interaction at chromatin was observed, although additional functional or physical interactions might exist.
  • Stated: S6KO mouse cells showed telomeric H3K9 hyperacetylation but did not display the downstream cellular defects seen in human cells, which the authors attribute to the large functional reserve of mouse telomeres.
  • Evident: many conclusions rely on shRNA knockdown and overexpression in cultured cells, and several supporting results are reported as “data not shown”; global H3K9Ac levels did not differ significantly, so the key effect is telomere-specific.

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Crossref · 10.1038/nature06736

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  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No enzymatic activity of SIRT6 at chromatin has yet been detected, and the identity of physiological SIRT6 substrates is unknown.

    “SIRT6 is a chromatin-associated protein3, but no enzymatic activity of SIRT6 at chromatin has yet been detected, and the identity of physiological SIRT6 substrates is unknown.”
    “Although no physiological enzymatic activity for SIRT6 on histones or other trans substrate has yet been observed, we proposed that SIRT6 might regulate chromatin at telomeres by deacetylating a specific histone tail residue.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    No effect of SIRT6 deficiency on cellular lifespan has been reported.

    “Despite the ageing-like phenotype of SIRT6-deficient mice, no effect of SIRT6 deficiency on cellular lifespan has been reported.”
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Metadata

Authors
Michishita, E., McCord, R. A., Berber, E., Kioi, M., Padilla-Nash, H., Damian, M., Cheung, P., Kusumoto, R., Kawahara, T. L. A., Barrett, J. C., Chang, H. Y., Bohr, V. A., Ried, T., Gozani, O., & Chua, K. F.
Affiliations
  • Stanford Medicine (US)
  • VA Palo Alto Health Care System (US)
  • Department of Biological Sciences (RU)
  • National Institutes of Health (US)
Corresponding author
Chua, Katrin F.
Venue
Nature
Published
2008-03
Volume
452
Issue
7186
Pages
492-496
ISSN
  • 0028-0836 (ISSN-L)
  • 1476-4687
OpenAlex
W2029969982
Cited by
1,111
References
32
Citations by year
2026: 35 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 59 · 2022: 57 · 2021: 68 · 2020: 75 · 2019: 64 · 2018: 75 · 2017: 63 · 2016: 83 · 2015: 68 · 2014: 62 · 2013: 94 · 2012: 57
FWCI
23.11
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Nature (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institute on Aging (R01AG028867, K08AG028961)
  • National Institute of General Medical Sciences (R01GM079641)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Geriatrics and Gerontology › Sirtuins and Resveratrol in Medicine
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Nuclear Structure and Function
Keywords
SIRT6, telomeric chromatin, telomere maintenance, premature aging, Werner syndrome, WRN, cellular senescence, chromatin silencing, telomere dysfunction, NAD+-dependent deacetylation
MeSH terms
Werner Syndrome Helicase, Acetylation, Cell Line, Chromatin, DNA Replication, Exodeoxyribonucleases, Fibroblasts, Histone Deacetylases, Histones, Humans, Lysine, Phenotype, Protein Binding, Werner Syndrome, Telomere, Cellular Senescence, Telomerase, Sirtuins, RecQ Helicases

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