Scientists at BTI and Cornell University have discovered new insights into a family of metabolites known as acylspermidines, which could transform how we understand aging and treat diseases.
The work, just published in Nature Chemical Biology, reveals an unexpected link between spermidine, a well-known chemical found in all living cells, and sirtuins, an enzyme family that regulates a variety of life-sustaining processes.
Sirtuins have received a great deal of attention over the last two decades. Recent research suggests that sirtuins have a critical role in a variety of age-related illnesses. As a result, there is a growing interest in the relationship between sirtuins and aging, making them a prospective target for therapeutic interventions targeted at increasing health span and lifespan.
“We were excited to uncover this unexpected branch of cellular metabolism related to sirtuins,” said lead author Frank Schroeder, a professor of chemistry and chemical biology in the College of Arts and Sciences at BTI. “Discovering these previously uncharacterized spermidine derivatives provides insight into the inner workings of this critical pathway and brings us a step closer to understanding the physiological functions of mitochondrial sirtuins.”
