Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a metabolic regulator of transcription, longevity and disease

Curr Opin Cell Biol. 2003 Apr;15(2):241-6. doi: 10.1016/s0955-0674(03)00006-1.

Abstract

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a ubiquitous biological molecule that participates in many metabolic reactions. Recent studies show that NAD also plays important roles in transcriptional regulation, longevity, calorie-restriction-mediated life-span extension and age-associated diseases. It has been shown that NAD affects longevity and transcriptional silencing through the regulation of the Sir2p family, which are NAD-dependent deacetylases. Many human diseases are associated with changes in NAD level and/or the NAD : NADH ratio, raising the possibility that the Sir2p family might play a role in these diseases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / genetics*
  • Aging / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Eukaryotic Cells / metabolism*
  • Genes, Regulator / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Longevity / genetics*
  • Metabolic Diseases / genetics
  • Metabolic Diseases / metabolism
  • Metabolic Diseases / physiopathology
  • NAD / metabolism*
  • Sirtuins / genetics
  • Sirtuins / metabolism

Substances

  • NAD
  • Sirtuins