Overview:

SIRT3 is a member of the sirtuin family of proteins which are homologs to the yeast Sir2 protein. Sirtuin family contain a sirtuin core domain and are grouped into four classes with SIRT3 being a member of class I. SIRT3 contains an N-terminal mitochondrial targeting signal and a central catalytic domain and localizes in the nuclei and mitochondria (1). SIRT3 has NAD(+)-dependent histone deacetylase activity with specificity for lys16 of H4 and, to a lesser extent, lys9 of H3. SIRT3 can repress transcription of a target gene in vivo when recruited to its promoter. Full-length SIRT3 is transported from the nucleus to the mitochondria during cell stress conditions (2).

Gene Aliases:

SIR2L3, Sirtuin 3

Genbank Number:

NM_012239

References:

1. Onyango, P. et al: SIRT3, a human SIR2 homologue, is an NAD-dependent deacetylase localized to mitochondria. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 99: 13653-13658, 2002.

2. Scher, M. B. et al: SirT3 is a nuclear NAD(+)-dependent histone deacetylase that translocates to the mitochondria upon cellular stress. Genes Dev. 21: 920-928, 2007.