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Sci. Signal., 9 June 2009
Vol. 2, Issue 74, p. ec191
[DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.274ec191]

EDITORS' CHOICE

Cell Biology Coordinating Response to Stress

L. Bryan Ray

Science, Science Signaling, AAAS, Washington, DC 20005, USA

Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1) (a protein deacetylase implicated in aging) senses the metabolic state of the cell and modulates the activity of substrate proteins that in turn regulate cellular transcriptional responses. In response to hypoxia, cells activate the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor 2{alpha} (HIF-2{alpha}), which promotes adaptive responses. Dioum et al. (see the Perspective by Guarente) discovered a link between these two important cellular stress response systems: HIF-2{alpha} is a substrate of Sirt1. Direct interaction between Sirt1 and HIF-2{alpha} results in deacetylation of HIF-2{alpha} and enhances its transcriptional activity. In mice lacking Sirt1, the ability of HIF-2{alpha} to promote synthesis of the growth factor erythropoietin is diminished. Thus, the regulation of HIF-2{alpha} helps to coordinate responses of cells to various stresses.

E. M. Dioum, R. Chen, M. S. Alexander, Q. Zhang, R. T. Hogg, R. D. Gerard, J. A. Garcia, Regulation of hypoxia-inducible factor 2{alpha} signaling by the stress-responsive deacetylase Sirtuin 1. Science 324, 1289–1293 (2009). [Abstract] [Full Text]

L. Guarente, Hypoxic hookup. Science 324, 1281–1282 (2009). [Summary] [Full Text]

Citation: L. B. Ray, Coordinating Response to Stress. Sci. Signal. 2, ec191 (2009).

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