SIRT2 antibody

SIR2, one of the silent information regulator genes, encodes a protein that promotes a compact chromatin structure, thereby preventing or silencing gene transcription at selected loci. SIR2 belongs to a family of proteins that is found in organisms ranging from bacteria to complex eukaryotes. Members of this family contain a 250 amino acid core domain that shares about 25-60% sequence identity. Silencing occurs as a series of events initiated by formation of Sir complexes (Sir2, Sir3, Sir4). The complexes are recruited to their chromosome targets via interactions with DNA-binding proteins, followed by deacetylation of histones H3 and H4. A final step required for telomeric silencing is binding of the complex to the deacetylated histones and recruitment of the telosome to the nuclear periphery. Sir2 protein is an NAD-dependent histone deacetylase, an enzyme that removes acetyl groups from lysine residues of histone proteins and possibly other substrates. Sir2 transfers acetyl groups from its protein substrates to ADP-ribose and synthesizes o-acetyl-ADP-ribose. Through histone deacetylation, Sir2 may silence chromatin. The maintenance or silencing of chromatin may be at the center of processes leading to aging of cells and development of cancer.