SIRT1 and SIRT2 Activity Control in Neurodegenerative Diseases

1Sirtuins (Silent information regulator proteins) are essential anti-aging factors that are conserved in all kingdoms of living organisms, from bacteria to the human they have nearly identical structures and catalytic functions. The sirtuin family is a NAD+ dependent histone deacetylase (HDAC) and is involved in the regulation of various activities such as deacetylation, ribosyltransferase, demalonylase, and desuccinylase. The seven mammalian homologs of Sirtuins (SIRT1-7) are located in the different compartments of cells. They are involved in the regulation of various enzymes, which in turn, modulate crucial proteins involved in DNA repair, cell cycle and development, cellular senescence, and neuroprotection. Therefore, they can be used as a therapeutic target for metabolic disorders and diseases.

2All the isoforms of sirtuins can deacetylate both histone and non-histone proteins. SIRT1, SIRT6, and SIRT7 are localized in the nucleus and are involved in histone deacetylation and influence specific transcription factors to regulate cell cycle. SIRT2 is predominately present in the cytosol where it deacetylates non-histone proteins and is proactively shuttled to the nucleus and cytoplasm. The localization of SIRT1 also changes conditionally depending upon cell type. SIRT3, -4, -5 are located in the mitochondria and have been reported to regulate oxidative stress. In yeast, these Sir2 proteins were found to increase longevity by acting on extrachromosomal rDNA circles and are suggested to be closest to SIRT1 in terms of structure and catalytic activity. According to several studies, sirtuins were also shown to slow down the aging process in mammals and increased the lifespan by caloric restriction (CR) and SIRT1 is mainly involved in cell survival during caloric restriction. SIRT3–5 expression favors mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, which induces stress tolerance during CR. Sirtuins also show pro-survival functions by blocking apoptosis and increasing cell survival through the regulation of forkhead transcription factors (FOXO). Through these functions, sirtuins modulate the course of aging and affect neurodegenerative diseases, and SIRT activators/modulators could have therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative diseases.

3Although neurodegenerative diseases are predominantly cell-type-specific, the various primary pathogenic progressions, which increase during aging, including protein misfolding, oxidative stress, cytoskeletal aberrations, disruption of calcium homeostasis, and inflammation are similar. A better understanding of a related mechanism may improve the possibility of therapeutic interventions against various neurodegenerative diseases. Among a plethora of treatments, sirtuins are grabbing attention as a target for many metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. Among all the sirtuins, SIRT1 is the most studied and best understood mammalian sirtuin in terms of its function, activity, and regulation in diverse cellular processes. SIRT1 deacetylates histones such as H1-Lys26, H3-Lys9, Lys14, and H4-Lys16, and reduces methylation of histone H3-Lys79 for the modulation of epigenetic information. SIRT1 deacetylates non-histone proteins which are associated with stress-related responses such as P53, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), PPAR-γ coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α), FOXO3a, FOXO1, and FOXO4 thereby increasing mitochondrial biogenesis and cell’s resistance toward oxidative stress (Figure 1; ).

4SIRT1 regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, inflammation, and apoptosis by regulating NF-κB and the members of the basic leucine zipper (bZIP) family proteins such as c-Fos and c-Jun. As a key regulator of metabolism, SIRT1 stimulates the fat and cholesterol catabolism and also regulates signaling proteins. Moreover, SIRT1 controls the gluconeogenic/glycolytic pathways through the transcriptional co-activator PGC-1α, which leads to an increase in the mitochondrial mass and function. In mammals, SIRT1 and SIRT2 regulate the stability of the oncogenic protein c-Myc, enhancing activation of its transcription targets. SIRT2 deacetylates a-tubulin during the cell cycle in the cytoplasm. However, when it is shuttled to the nucleus, it acts on many nuclear substrates such as p53, FOXO1, FOXO3a, histone H4, histone H3, and p300.

5Many studies have concluded that SIRT2 is mainly involved in mitotic checkpoints and centrosome integrity. SIRT2 is the major isoform which is expressed highly in brain cells mainly in myelin cells and also in olfactory and hippocampal neurons, where it is involved in the suppression of glioma migration, cytoskeletal growth cone dynamics, neurite outgrowth and oligodendrocyte arborization. SIRT2 inhibits colony formation in glioma cell lines and arrests chromosomal instability by getting down-regulated. SIRT2 is associated with neurodegenerative diseases, and its inhibition delays the progression of the disease. SIRT2 has been reported to prevent α synuclein-mediated toxicity in PD by deacetylating lysine 6 and 10 of α-synuclein preventing its aggregation and toxicity.

6All these studies prove that mammalian sirtuins are involved in cancer, metabolic disorders, and neurological diseases. In recent years, numerous studies have led to the development of various modulators that either activate or inhibit the activity of sirtuins and thereby act as therapeutically potential drug molecules. Though there is a plethora of structure-function data available for SIRT1/2, their exact mechanisms of activity in cellular pathways are not yet known. Table 1 lists the best-known modulators of SIRT 1/2, which have been studied for their potential therapeutic effects in AD, PD, and HD.

7This review focuses on SIRT1 and SIRT2. Of these, SIRT1 is well-studied and the best understood mammalian sirtuin and SIRT2 is the most abundant sirtuin expressed in the brain. Both sirtuins are highly associated with neurodegenerative diseases. In this review we describe the structural aspects of both SIRT1 and SIRT2 to understand the mechanism of sirtuin modulation in neurodegenerative diseases, presenting activators and inhibitors that have either been confirmed or postulated to bind to the selectivity pocket, and provide an outlook regarding mechanistic investigations. The various technologies and methodologies that were used to design, synthesize, and validate potential drug molecules against SIRT1/2 activity are also elucidated. Further progress in our understanding of the mechanisms of sirtuin modulation by such compounds provides a basis for further drug development in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

8About 1% of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cases have a familial component, whereas 99% are sporadic and have a late-onset. The incidence and prevalence of AD increases exponentially with age, and in rare cases, AD can occur before the age of 60. Familiar AD is associated with the autosomal dominant mutations in the amyloid precursor protein (APP), presenilin 1 (PS1), and presenilin 2 (PS2) genes as well as the ε4 allele of apolipoprotein E. Amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles are histopathological hallmarks for AD. Hardy and Higgins were the first to publish findings on the accumulation of Aβ peptides in the brain parenchyma, indicating that this is a central event in the pathogenesis of AD. Under normal conditions, APP processing starts by α-secretase and later by the γ-secretase, forming a non-amylogenic peptide. APP can also be cleaved first by the β-secretase complex (BACE1) and later by γ-secretase, which produces the amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptide. Oligomeric Aβ induces glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3β) expression in the brains of AD patients; this results in tau hyperphosphorylation and microtubule disruption originating the neurofibrillary tangles, impairment of memory and long-term potentiation (LTP), and neuronal apoptosis. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction play an essential role in the early pathology of AD, and current therapeutic methods include novel usage of mitochondria-targeted antioxidants to scavenge free-radicals and improve the mitochondrial function. The protein quality control system and autophagic pathways are altered in AD, affecting the proteostasis balance.

9We identified SIRT1 as a premorbid and prodromal indicator of AD in 3xTg-AD mice. SIRT1 is expressed at lowered levels in the brains of patients with AD. In postmortem human brain samples from AD patients, the levels of SIRT1 in some brain regions were lower than those in the corresponding control group, and significant correlations were observed between the level of SIRT1 and Braak stage in these same regions of the brain. The main risk factor for AD is age, and a decline in the serum concentration of SIRT1 in healthy individuals occurs during aging. In patients with AD and MCI, the decline was even more pronounced.

10SIRT1 regulates the non-amyloidogenic processing of APP through multiple targets. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARPs) regulates the expression of SIRT1, transcription regulators, and amyloid precursor protein (APP) cleaving enzymes. This oxidative stress induces PARP1 activation and contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction and cytotoxicity. The hyperacetylation of PGC-1α is also associated with the SIRT1 inhibition by PARP1, which can affect mitochondrial biogenesis. The activation of PARP1 depletes the NAD+ to inactivate SIRT1 and hence, the inhibition of PARP1, either by small molecules or by SIRT1 deacetylation, can, in turn, enhance the SIRT1 activity along with the transcription of enzymes involved in APP metabolism in Aβ cytotoxicity (; Figure 2A). In animal model studies, the inhibition of PARP1 showed reduced brain injury. As reported SIRT1 inhibits Rho kinase ROCK1 expression, which further influences the inhibition of the non-amyloidogenic α-secretase processing in brain cells (Figure 2A). By deacetylating the RARβ (Retinoic acid receptor β), SIRT1 upregulates the α-secretase ADAM10, and consequently, upregulates the non-amyloidogenic pathway. Inhibition of NF-κB down-regulates the expression of the β-secretase β-site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1), reducing amyloidogenic APP processing (Figure 2A; ). Furthermore, SIRT1 also reduces Aβ generation by decreasing BACE1 transcription through PGC1-α and PPARγ deacetylation by direct interactions of SIRT1, PGC-1α and PPARγ activated proteins with the PPARγ responsive element/PPRE identified in the BACE1 promoter. The ADAM10 activation also leads to the Notch receptor cleavage, which targets the genes that are vital for memory learning and synaptic plasticity. However, specific pharmacological SIRT2 inhibition with AK7 increased non-amylogenic APP processing by α-secretase and reduced processing by BACE1, down-regulating its expression in the hippocampus and ameliorating the AD-associated pathology in 3xTg-AD and APP/PS1 mice. Hence, SIRT1 and SIRT2 influence APP processing in opposing ways.

11Hyperphosphorylated tau is associated with the reduced acetylation of cytoskeletal proteins. SIRT1 deacetylates the hyperphosphorylated tau protein, which leaves them susceptible to ubiquitin ligases. This reduces the tau accumulation and neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) formation in cells (Figure 2B; ). In this study, there was an increase in the level of acetylated α-tubulin with nicotinamide (NAM) treatment, which is a competitive inhibitor of sirtuins. SIRT1 deacetylates tau and reduces pathogenic tau spread in a mouse model of tauopathy. In recent years, scientists have investigated the association between sirtuins and ApoE in AD. According to the Bredesen group, ApoE4 reduces the ratio of neuroprotective SIRT1 to neurotoxic SIRT2 and also triggers the phosphorylation of tau and APP which leads to programmed cell death (; Figure 2B). The O-GlcNAcylation of tau can negatively regulate the phosphorylation at Thr212 of tau, which can cause NFT formation. Tau phosphorylation is also regulated in an ApoE independent pathway in which CREB is involved. In AD, SIRT1 activation causes the deacetylated CREB to suppress the O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) expression. This will, in turn, reduce the O-GlcNAcylation of tau and promotes the phosphorylation at Ser214 and Ser199, causing a reduction of NFT.

12There are prominent shreds of evidence that prove the link between SIRT1 and AD. In the last decade, many studies have focused on understanding the mechanism of action of SIRT1 in age-related neurodegenerative diseases. According to Anekonda et al., SIRT1 may deacetylate the AD-affected neurons in the nucleus, which prevents the apoptotic death of the neurons by repressing the p53 activity. The apoptotic activity of FOXO proteins is also suppressed, thus promoting neuronal survival. This presents an opportunity for novel therapeutic use. Moreover, Aβ25–35-induced impairment of mitochondrial biogenesis in the primary hippocampal neurons is caused by the inhibition of the AMPK-SIRT1-PGC-1α pathway. The overexpression of the SIRT1 in the brain reduces central nervous system AD pathologies via activation of α-secretase directed cleavage of APP. Researchers have identified that SIRT1 activation inhibits NF-κB signaling and reduces microglia-dependent Aβ toxicity. Sustained inflammation mediated by activated microglia is common to most neurologic disorders, and it has been reported that also SIRT2 overexpression inhibited microglia activation through NF-κB deacetylation. Decreased acetylation of SIRT1 substrates such as p53 and PGC-1α after resveratrol (RSV) treatment in the mouse hippocampus indicates the protective role of SIRT1 against neurodegeneration. Severe impaired olfactory sensory functions in AD have led to the speculation that SIRT2 might be neuroprotective in olfactory sensory neurons. According to, SIRT2 may also regulate the levels of insulin/IGF-1 in the cytoskeleton of AD brains.

13SIRT2 was found to be the most abundant sirtuin in the brain, expressed exclusively in cytoplasmatic neurites and growth cones of postmitotic cells. In AD, autophagy was found to be reduced. However, the inhibition of SIRT2 improves autophagy because SIRT2 is a tubulin deacetylase that regulates microtubule network acetylation. Microtubule disassembly impairs autophagy, whereas SIRT2 inhibition results in microtubule network reestablishment, facilitating axonal transport and fusion of autophagic vacuoles with lysosomes (Figure 2C; ). According to a meta-analysis study, the presence of SIRT2 polymorphism showed an association with AD in a European population. Though many scientists are trying to treat the cognitive impairment of AD, there are no drugs to prevent disease progression currently available. The expression of SIRT1 and SIRT2 during aging and the progression of AD differ considerably. SIRT1 mRNA expression levels were significantly decreased in both older people and AD patient groups compared to young people; however, the reverse is seen for SIRT2. The oral administration of NAM, a non-selective SIRT1 and SIRT2 inhibitor but with lower IC50 to SIRT1 (Table 1), to 3xTg-AD mice, restored a cognitive deficit in these mice by reducing phosphorylated tau, and improved autophagy-lysosome procession in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Although the molecular mechanism is impossible to know because NAM inhibits both sirtuins, it seems that the inhibition of SIRT2, whose expression levels increase with age, may play an essential role in the improvement of cognitive abilities and the modulation of the most relevant molecular mechanisms in the progression of AD. Furthermore, SIRT1 were inversely correlated with insoluble hyperphosphorylated paired tau protein, the use of a specific SIRT2 inhibitor could increase the levels of SIRT1 indirectly and improve neuroprotection. Various SIRT1 enhancers such as resveratrol, SRT1460, and SRT1720 have been proven to reduce misfolding protein-induced neurotoxicity.

14RSV (3, 5, 4′-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a polyphenol produced mainly in the skin and seeds of grapes. Initial studies showed that as a result of RSV treatment, cell survival in animal models increased by the stimulation of p53 deacetylation by SIRT1. RSV was found to extend the lifespan through the over-expression of SIRT1 in a mice model. RSV appeared to be protective against neurodegenerative diseases by activating SIRT1, AMPK, and PGC-1α. RVS also showed a neuroprotective effect in a rat model of diabetes mellitus (DM) and concomitant AD that often coexist in patients. It delayed Wallerian degeneration by activating SIRT1 through dissociation from its inhibitor DBC1 in mouse models. Long-term treatment by oral administration of trans-RSV on AβPP/PS1 mice (AD model) prevented memory loss. Furthermore, RSV treatment also increased the gene expression levels of IL1β and TNF in a mice model and influenced the inflammatory processes. Piceatannol (trans-3,4,3′,5′-tetrahydroxystilbene), a plant polyphenol, and a structural homolog of RSV showed a better protective effect compared to RSV on Aβ-induced PC12 neuronal cell death. Piceatannol reduced the ROS accumulation, thus decreasing the oxidative stress and attenuating apoptosis in Aβ-induced cells.

15Another study explained the structure of SIRT1-RSV- p53- AMC (7-Amino-4-methylcoumarin) tagged peptide complex (PDB. 5BTR) and suggested that the stimulatory effect of RSV requires the presence of an N-terminal domain (NTD) and a catalytic domain (CD) of SIRT1, which is similar across all SIRT isoforms. The NTD of SIRT1 is not well studied; however, it is crucial to understand the mechanism of interaction between SIRT1 and RSV and how modulation of SIRT1 activity can lead to the development of novel pharmacological activators. The structure showed that two RSV molecules mediate the interaction between the AMC peptide and the NTD of SIRT1. These RSV molecules mainly help in tighter binding between SIRT1 and the peptide, hence stimulating of SIRT1 activity.

16There are several ongoing clinical studies available to evaluate the benefit of RSV treatment in AD patients. According to a recent double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, oral intake of the high doses of RSV is safe, well-tolerated, and alters some AD biomarker trajectories. The treatment of 119 of these mild-moderate AD subjects for 52 weeks with RSV (up to 1 g by mouth twice daily) markedly reduced the levels of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) MMP9, a marker of blood-brain barrier damage, and as well as the CSF levels of Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42. RSV also restricted cognitive decline in mini-mental status examination (MMSE) scores observed in the placebo group, suggesting that resveratrol may slow progressive cognitive and functional decline in mild to moderate AD subjects. Ten subjects with a mild decline in cognition were randomized into an active grape formulation containing RVS arm or a placebo arm. These subjects consumed a formulation free of polyphenols for six months. The active formulation group was spared decline in regions of the brain that are significantly affected in the early stages of AD.

17Previous research has shown that SIRT2 inhibition by the sulfobenzoic acid derivative AK1, affects the transcription of genes involved in cholesterol pathways in striatal neuronal cultures. A study in rTg4510 mice (Frontotemporal dementia model mice) showed that the direct administration of AK1 in hippocampal regions prevented the neuronal loss by inhibition of SIRT2. These results indicate the benefits of SIRT2 inhibitors in tau associated Alzheimer’s and Frontotemporal dementia diseases. SIRT2 inhibition by AK1 also confers neuroprotection via the downregulation of MAPK and FOXO3 pathways. Recent findings in AD cells proved that mitochondrial dysfunction could be managed by inhibiting SIRT2 expression by small molecules such as AK1. The in vitro studies performed by Biella G et al. suggested that inhibition of SIRT2 by AGK2 and AK7 reduced the Aβ production in H4-SW neuroglioma cells and modified the APP proteolytic processing, leading to a reduction of soluble Aβ and an increase of soluble α-amyloid protein in two AD transgenic mouse models (3xTg-AD and APP23). This led to the improvement of cognitive performance in these mice. Furthermore, in the 3xTg-AD model, the authors found an increase of tau expression after AK7 treatment, while its phosphorylated form was undetectable. Both RSV and AGK2 reduces the reactive gliosis in AD models. Hence, the study supported the relevant mechanism for managing AD through inhibition of SIRT2. The treatment of AK7 in ER-stressed organotypic motoneuron cultures was also found to be neuroprotective. A naturally occurring β-amino acid, taurine, prevents Aβ1-42 induced mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal death by activation of SIRT1 in SK-N-SH cells.

1833i (2- {3-(3 fluorophenethyloxy) phenylamino} benzamide) is a selective inhibitor for SIRT2. According to a study, 33i compound modulates the glutamate receptor and neuroinflammation by SIRT2 inhibition in senescence-accelerated mouse prone-8 (SAMP8) model but only at an early stage. This could thus be a novel target to prevent age-related cognitive decline and neurodegeneration.

19Another set of oligomeric compounds called procyanidins, mixtures of catechin and epicatechin, could be effective in the treatment of AD. Some pathological features of AD such as extracellular amyloid deposits and neurofibrillary tangles have been observed to be attenuated by procyanidins. These compounds aided the enhancement of cognition and modulation of synaptic plasticity. Procyanidins upregulate the SIRT1 that stimulates CREB (cAMP response element-binding), which acts as a molecular switch from short to long term memory. A new investigation has illustrated that procyanidins maintain cellular morphology and protect it from deformation and decrease apoptosis rates in PC12 cells induced by Aβ25–35.

20Linagliptin (marketed under trade names Tradjenta) is an inhibitor of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) that has beneficial effects on impaired insulin signaling caused by Aβ in the SK-N-MC neuronal cells. Linagliptin activates the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway that further attenuates the mitochondrial dysfunction, and excessive ROS production caused due to aggregation of Aβ. This proves that DPP-4 inhibitors possess therapeutic potential for AD pathogenesis.

213,4-Dihydroxyphenylethanol (DOPET; hydroxytyrosol) is a biophenol that is present in olive oil, grape juice, and wine. It is an endogenous metabolite of dopamine that has central and peripheral neuroprotective effects. It has been evaluated for its effects in an AD mouse model. The results showed that DOPET treatment reversed aberrations caused due to Aβ1–42 plus ibotenic acid intoxication such as dysregulation of SIRT1 and CREB associated protein expression levels in the hippocampus of mice. The increased SIRT1 activity elicits the α-secretase gene ADAM10 to enhance the clearance of neurotoxic Aβ peptide to protect the neuronal cells. This reduced neurotoxic Aβ peptide decreases the tau aggregation and thereby has a potential therapeutic role in the treatment of AD.

22Cilostazol (OPC-13013, 6-[4-(1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl) butoxy]-3,4-dihydro-2-[1H]-quinolinone) is a small molecule that reduced intracellular Aβ levels and phosphorylated tau in N2a cells. It also significantly enhanced learning and memory levels in a mice AD model. A study proved that cilostazol suppressed the accumulations of FL-APP and Aβ by activating ADAM10 through the upregulation of SIRT1-coupled RARβ. According to research, cilostazol helps in the survival of N2a cells from Aβ-induced neurotoxicity by upregulating the autophagy machinery and its associated proteins. Inhibition of Aβ induced neurotoxicity was reversed by 3-methyladenine proving that the mechanism includes the induction of autophagy. A clinical trial with 10 patients showed significant improvement in the MMSE score when donepezil with cilostazol was given in combination therapy. In a recent clinical trial, the administration of cilostazol in AD patients with white matter lesions showed improved cognitive function through increased glucose metabolism.

23Finally, a first-in-class small molecule, apolipoprotein E4 (ApoE4)-targeted SIRT1 A03, showed SIRT1-enhancing effects in the hippocampus of 5XFAD-ApoE4 AD model mice improving their performance in cognitive tasks. The neurotoxic SIRT2 levels were not significantly affected.

24Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an age-related motor disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. It is associated with bradykinesia, postural instability, and neuronal loss. Another hallmark of PD is misfolded α-synuclein (α-Syn) protein aggregates, which form cytoplasmic inclusions called Lewy bodies.

25SIRT1 and SIRT2 have contrasting effects in PD models. Previous studies suggest a genetic correlation between SIRT1 and PD based on the fact that the loss of SIRT1 or its mutations can lead to PD pathology, implying that SIRT1 is protective in function. Though there are very few studies linking PD to SIRT1, α-Syn protein aggregation facilitates the dysregulation of mitochondrial function and reduces SIRT1 expression. According to a study in animal and cell models, there is reciprocal regulation between SIRT1 and angiotensin-II in the substantia nigra. Manipulating this reciprocal regulation might be useful in neuroprotective treatment.

26In SH-SY5Y cells, SIRT1 has been shown to serve as a neuroprotectant by downregulating the expression of NF-κβ and cleaved PARP1 and reducing phospho-α-Syn aggregates (Figure 3; ). In another study that aimed to elucidate the relationship between hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) and SIRT1, SH-SY5Y cells were treated with methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) to obtain a PD cell model. In this study the expression of SIRT1 was inhibited, however; the expression of HIF-1α and its target genes VEGFA (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A) and LDHA (Lactate dehydrogenase A) increased with MPP+ treatment. Furthermore, the silencing of SIRT1 increased the expression of HIF-1α, which suggested that SIRT1 was involved in the epigenetic regulation of HIF-1α.

27Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting NAD biosynthetic enzyme, acts as a substrate for SIRT1 for NAD+ dependent deacetylation. NAMPT plays a role in neuroprotection in PC12 cells against 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neurotoxicity. A dietary flavonol, fisetin (3,7,3′,4′-tetrahydroxyflavone) was demonstrated to protect the catecholaminergic PC12 cells via ROS scavenging and modulating the activity of SIRT1 and MAPK signaling.

28SIRT2 has been reported to mediate α-Syn protein aggregation which also induces oxidative stress, in turn, leading to PD pathogenesis. SIRT2 by deacetylating FOXO3a has been shown to increase antioxidant defense mechanisms. It elevates the FOXO3a DNA binding, resulting in an increased expression of SOD2. However, SIRT2 mediated FOXO3a deacetylation also increased the pro-apoptotic Bim (; Figure 3). In PC12 cells, inhibition of SIRT2 by AGK2 has resulted in reduced ATP and cell death by necrosis. However, in contrast to these results, Nie et al. proved that SIRT2 inhibition protects PC12 cells from H2O2 induced toxicity and that its silencing reduced the levels of ROS following H2O2 treatment. SIRT2 can also promote cytoplasmic p53-dependent autophagy in a PD model. These results prove the contradictory roles of SIRT2 as both neuroprotective and neurotoxic in PD.

29A recent study has demonstrated the neuroprotective role of AGK2 in ischemic stroke through the downregulation of AKT/FOXO3a and MAPK pathways by selective SIRT2 inhibition in C57BL/6 mice. Additionally, the upregulated histone acetylation observed in PD was primarily due to the degenerating dopaminergic neurons and infiltrating activated microglia. The AGK2 treatment drastically reduced the activation of microglia and protected neurons from degeneration. α-Syn acetylation regulates the distribution of α-Syn, which modulates aggregation and toxicity. SIRT2 deacetylates lysine 6, and 10 residues of α-Syn, and inhibition of SIRT2 modulates the levels of α-Syn acetylation, its aggregation, and autophagy. According to a recent report, the downregulation of SIRT2 has a neuroprotective role in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAo) mouse model. The lipopolysaccharides-induced neuroinflammation and brain injury were also ameliorated by the inhibition of SIRT2 through AGK2 treatment in mice. Another substrate for SIRT2 is α-tubulin. SIRT2 overexpression inhibited neurite outgrowth in mouse hippocampal neurons by deacetylating α-tubulin and modifying microtubule dynamics, whereas SIRT2 knockdown cells resulted in a significant increase of neurite length. Recently it has been reported that γ-mangostin, a novel SIRT2 inhibitor displaying 6-fold selectivity against SIRT2 as compared to SIRT1 and SIRT3, promoted neurite outgrowth in an assay using the Neuro-2a cell line to evaluate the neurotrophic effects of a compound. Furthermore, the treatment of Neuro-2a cells with 2 μM of γ-mangostin showed a 40% increment in the number of differentiated cells after 48 h and may potentially be useful for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In the Drosophila model of PD, SIRT2 inhibitors showed neuroprotective activity in dopaminergic neurons by reducing α-Syn toxicity where fewer aggregates will be formed.

30The various reports suggest that RSV has a therapeutic effect in PD treatment, and it has been shown to suppress the α-Syn-induced toxicity in SK-N-BE cells by activating SIRT1. MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridin), is a dopaminergic neurotoxin that induces most of the clinical features of PD. RSV improved PD phenotype by modulating MALAT1 and suppressing apoptosis of neurons in the MPTM induced PD model. Another line of evidence has shown that RSV ameliorates the pathological changes in MPTP treated mice through SIRT1 activation and light chain 3 (LC3) deacetylation. At the same time treatment with selisistat has reversed this effect of RSV by reducing LC3 deacetylation. Carboxamide selisistat was also found to affect the stable binding of the SIRT1-DBC1 complex in an acetylation-independent pathway. 5,6,7,8- Tetrahydrobenzo[4,5] thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4(3H)-one (ICL-SIRT07), a substrate competitive SIRT2 inhibitor which has been tested in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, and was found to increase acetylation of α-tubulin. Increased neuronal survival after the treatment of ICL-SIRT07 in a lactacystin-induced PD model of N27 cells has proved that SIRT2 inhibition could be a potential strategy for the treatment of PD. RSV administration to PD cells rescued the mitochondrial functions through the activation of AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α pathway. This emphasizes the therapeutic potentiality of RSV in the PD model.

31The SIRT2 inhibitor AK7 which is neuroprotective in HD was also evaluated for its effect in the PD model. It was found that AK7 is neuroprotective in models of PD but not amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cerebral ischemia. However, from another recent study, the inhibition of SIRT2 by AK7 treatment or genetic depletion was found to be detrimental to motor neurons. In the MPTP induced PD mice model, the treatment of AK7 has improved behavior abnormalities, neurochemical deficits and redox dysfunction.

32Huntington’s disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurological disorder primarily associated with motor dysfunction. It mainly occurs due to an expanded CAG repeated sequence in the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which translates as a polyglutamine repeat in the protein product. Mutant Htt proteins expressed ubiquitously in the peripheral and central nervous systems of HD patients form aggregates and these aggregates have been found to enter subcellular organelles, such as mitochondria interacting with the mitochondrial protein dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1). The interaction causes excessive mitochondrial fragmentation and abnormal distribution, leading to selective synaptic degeneration. Despite the discovery of the mutant HTT gene more than two decades ago, the disease remains incurable and current treatment is focused on symptomatic therapy.

33Targeting SIRT1 and SIRT2 could be a potentially beneficial approach to the development of therapeutics for HD. SIRT1 is one of the most widely studied proteins that could serve as a potential protective agent against mutant HTT neurotoxicity. The mutation of the SIRT1 gene in the HD R6/2 model resulted in exacerbation of the disease. However, overexpression had the opposite result, wherein it reduced the Huntington aggregation. Genetically increasing the expression of SIRT1 served a neuroprotective role in transgenic mouse models of HD. One of the mechanisms of action of SIRT1 is the deacetylation and activation of TORC1 (CREB regulated transcription coactivator1), accompanied by its binding with CREB to transcribe BDNF, a neuroprotective factor in HD. In the brains of HD mouse models (R6/2 and HdhQ150), SIRT1 activity is down-regulated where its phosphorylation status is affected due to abnormal expression of AMPK-α1. This regulatory mechanism of SIRT1 establishes a novel therapeutic strategy in the treatment of HD. HTT inclusions directly interact with SIRT1, causing an increase in the acetylation of its substrates such as FOXO3a and hence inhibiting the pro-survival effect of SIRT1 (Figure 4; ).

34There are other controversial observations regarding the effects of SIRT1 on HTT toxicity. SIRT1 overexpression showed decreased accumulation of HTT; however, in N171–82Q mice, SIRT1 did not affect HTT aggregation. Other mechanisms of the SIRT1 action include the modulation of PGC-1α, a key player in the pathogenesis of HD, as well as the amelioration of mitochondrial dysfunction. These present promising avenues that could be utilized in the treatment of HD. One example of the different modes of SIRT1 activation is by the administration of nicotinamide riboside, a precursor of NAD+, which activates sirtuin enzymes also leading to the increased PGC-1α, SOD2, and mitochondrial reduced glutathione. In another study by Naia L et al., the mitochondrial function was completely restored by the treatment of RSV via activation of deacetylase activity. In contrast, NAM treatment increased the NAD+ levels and therefore increased H3 acetylation at lysine 9, in in vitro HD models.

35Several studies have revealed that the significance of SIRT2 inhibition leads to a decline in neurodegeneration in animal and cellular models of disease. According to these studies, manipulation of sterol biosynthesis mimicked SIRT2 inhibition, and the consequent metabolic effects of SIRT2 inhibition were sufficient to reduce HTT toxicity. In contrast to this, another study showed that a reduction in SIRT2 had no effect on the tubulin acetylation, cholesterol biosynthesis and failed to modulate disease progression in the R6/2 mouse model of HD. It was concluded that SIRT2 inhibition does not alter the disease progression in the HID-R6/2 mouse model, and thus SIRT2 inhibition should not be considered as a therapeutic option for HD. More HD models need to be designed and examined to address this question.

36RSV modulates cellular function by activating SIRT1. It also functions as a phytoestrogen to activate the estrogen receptors through which the mitochondrial electron transport chain is regulated. In HD mitochondrial dysregulation plays a significant role in pathogenesis and as mentioned, SIRT1 regulates the expression of PGC-1α, a key regulator of mitochondrial function and biogenesis (Figure 4;; ). RSV treatment in animal HD models has shown an improvement in cognitive and motor deficits. An RSV injection of 25 mg/mouse/day for 75 days, was found to increase the PGC-1α level through SIRT1 deacetylation in the N171–82Q HD mice model. The small molecules SRT1720, SRT2183, and SRT1460 were found to be 1,000 times more potent than RSV in a type 2 diabetes disease model. The activator of SIRT1, SRT2104 was found to attenuate brain atrophy, improved motor movement, and increased cell survival in the N171–82Q HD mice. SRT2104 has been demonstrated as safe and has biological effects in both healthy and elderly populations of human phase I clinical trials.

37Sesamin and sesamol are also natural antioxidative compounds extracted from the sesame plant, which can act similar to RSV. Notably, pretreated neuroblastoma cell lines with sesamin and sesamol are potentially protected from oxidative stress through the activation of the SIRT1-SIRT3-FOXO3a pathway, which could be effective in HD treatment. Another well-known natural compound serving as an activator of SIRT1 is β-lapachone (βL), which is isolated from the bark of the Lapacho tree. It is known to possess several beneficial effects in the treatment of diseases. The activation of SIRT1 by βL reduced the polyQ accumulation in the HD model and thus reduced its associated cytotoxicity. The treatment of R6/2 HD mice with βL significantly increased the SIRT1 expression, CREB phosphorylation, and PGC-1α deacetylation. Furthermore, oral administration of βL ameliorated the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in HD mice. In cell-line studies, βL was found to induce the NQO1 expression, which further influences the redox homeostasis.

38In the last decades, many SIRT1 and SIRT2 inhibitors have been identified by in silico screening. One among these is sirtinol, which acts on both proteins to inhibit deacetylation activity. In human cells expressing HTTEx1(97Q), sirtinol treatment increased the aggregation. The inhibitor sirtinol is beneficial in flies expressing mutant Htt. Since sirtinol also inhibits SIRT2, it is not possible to exclude the notion that protection is due to inhibition of SIRT2, which has recently been observed to be protective in HD mouse models. NAM, the end product of sirtuins deacetylation activity, acts as a product inhibitor in the cell. An initial in vivo study identified NAM as an effective suppressor of polyQ toxicity in spinocerebellar ataxia. Despite being an inhibitor of SIRT1, the treatment of B6.HD6/1 mice with 250 mg/kg/day NAM for 12 weeks was found to improve motor deficit by increasing the BDNF and PGC-1α levels. Though the NAM has a similar inhibitory effect as sirtinol, the scope is different. An acetylation screening assay has demonstrated the inhibition effect of both NAM and sirtinol in cells where acetylation sites upregulated by 12 and < 2% in the presence of NAM and sirtinol respectively.

39Selisistat (6-chloro-2,3,4,9-tetrahydro-1H-carbazole-1-carboxamide), a small molecule that selectively inhibits SIRT1/Sir2, was identified as a neuroprotective agent in Drosophila, mammalian, and mouse HD models. A study was conducted to examine the effects of genetic and pharmacological changes of SIRT1/Sir2 activity in the HD model. An exploratory double-blind, randomized clinical trial was performed in healthy volunteers as well as in HD patients to assess the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of selisistat. Based on the observations from this study, selisistat was identified as a candidate for further clinical efficacy studies in patients with HD. Selisistat was first tested in humans to investigate the safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacogenomics of single and multiple doses in healthy male and female subjects. The double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study concluded that selisistat was safe and well-tolerated by healthy male and female subjects after single doses up to 600 mg and multiple doses up to 300 mg day. A randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled multicenter exploratory clinical trial with selisistat also established its safety and tolerability for the HD patients. Selisistat has currently reached phase III clinical trials for the treatment of HD. Sesame lignans (50 mg of sesamin/episesamin = 1/1) were also confirmed to be safe and tolerable in healthy subjects. However, it has been found that a βL analogue, ARQ 761, exerts toxicities such as anemia and methemoglobinaemia.

40A recent study identified that a novel thiazole-containing SIRT2 inhibitor MIND4 has neuroprotective activity in brain slice and Drosophila models of HD. System biology approaches have inferred that MIND4 is a transcriptional inducer of the NRF2-mediated oxidative stress response. According to previous studies, overexpression of NRF2 protects neurons from mutant HTT and induces antioxidant effects in the brain.

41Concerning HD, the modulators that stimulate SIRT1 deacetylation activity, as well as SIRT2 mutants with reduced activity, would significantly reduce the number of mHTT inclusions. Different SIRT2 inhibitors were investigated for their neuroprotective effect by examining decreased polyQ aggregation in HD models. Structural modification of lead compounds AK-7 and C2-8 has resulted in the development of various analogues with improved SIRT2 inhibition potency, water-solubility, metabolic stability, and other desirable pharmacological properties. Khanfar and coworkers tested 176 analogues of sulfobenzoic acid for their effects on SIRT2 activity and, following this initial screen, a subset of bioactive compounds were evaluated for their tertiary polyglutamine aggregation assay in PC12 cells. The best substituents on the aromatic ring are cyano, acetyl, 1-hydroxyethyl, methylation. The sulfobenzoic acid derivatives such as AK1 and AK7 were assessed for their efficacy and brain permeability. A study proved that AK7 was more specific to SIRT2 compared to SIRT1 and SIRT3 and was found to improved neuronal survival, motor function, reduced brain atrophy, and the levels of aggregated mutant HTT in two genetic mouse models of HD. SIRT2 inhibition by AK1 downregulates the cholesterol synthesis by blocking the nuclear translocation of the sterol response element (SRE) binding protein 2 (SREBP-2).

42The recent discoveries discussed above, emphasize the effective and beneficial roles of sirtuins in cancer and neurodegeneration. Although the importance of sirtuins in neurodegeneration is well understood, a lack of structural information has impeded the selective drug designing for SIRT1 and SIRT2. There are more promising data for the SIRT1 activators and SIRT2 inhibitors in the case of neurodegeneration. All isoforms of the sirtuins possess a conserved HDAC domain, and there exists an overlapping activity between them. SIRT2 was the first isoform structure to be uncovered in 2001. However, at present, SIRT1 is the more extensively studied isoform. Structural characterizations of a deleted SIRT1 construct have shed light on the modulator binding and key regulatory elements. There are more structures available for HDAC inhibitor complexes than SIRT1 activator complexes.

43Full-length SIRT1 consists of three major regions; the N-terminal domain (NTD) with three helices (183–229), the HDAC domain (229–516), and a β-hairpin from the C-terminal regulatory segment (CTR), which is also known as the region essential for SIRT1 activity (ESA) (Figures 5A,B, Blue colored). The NTD are also called sirtuin-activating compound (STACs) binding domains (SBD) (Figures 5A,B, yellow-colored). This region binds to the activator AROS (Active Regulator of SIRT1), and are known as the allosteric site. A few studies have suggested that the rotation of SBD around the Arg234 residue would bring Glu230 close to Arg446, enabling their electrostatic interaction to stabilize the active conformation of enzymes and also bringing STACs close to the active site. Additionally, the CTR segment was found to interact with the catalytic core to increase its stability.

44Many SIRT1 and SIRT2 crystal structures of catalytic cores have revealed the conserved structure of the catalytic domain with the N- and C-terminal extensions varying in sequence and length. The overall structure of the HDAC domain of all isoforms is similar, with each in possession of a large Rossmann fold domain for NAD+ binding and a small domain that contains a zinc-binding ribbon module (362–419 residues) (Figure 5B). The substrate acetyl-lysine site is a hydrophobic tunnel between two domains. In all known structures the catalytic site can be divided into three sub-sites, namely, the NAD+ -binding region (site “A”), the inner hydrophobic cavity where nicotinamide (the product of NAD+, NAM) is released (site “B”), and the hydrophobic tunnel where the side chain of Kac binds (site “C”) (; Figure 5C). During catalysis, NAD+ with its kinked conformation brings the C1′ of its ribose moiety into proximity for a nucleophilic attack by the carbonyl O atom of the acetyl-lysine that is inserted in a hydrophobic tunnel. On cleavage of nicotinamide and the formation of an alkylimidate complex, the acetyl group is transferred to the ADPR moiety, generating 2′-O-acetyl-ADPR and releasing the deacetylated lysine (Figure 6; ).

45Sirtuins adopt a different conformational state depending on the cofactor binding. SIRT1 also displays an open form in the absence of NAD+ and substrate, and a closed-form in the presence of cofactor and substrate. Moniot et al. first demonstrated this conformational change in SIRT2 from an open conformation to a closed conformation upon ADPr and substrate binding, due to the small rotation in the Zn-binding domain. The isoform two of SIRT2 was predicted to have an autoinhibitory C-terminal region that can partially block the NAD+ binding site and inhibit catalysis. This naturally disordered region is responsible for the conformational change of the HDAC domain upon phosphorylation at Ser331.

46According to Dai et al., the SIRT1 activation by STACs was reported to depend on the specific features of the fluorophore-labelled substrate in the deacetylation assay. In later years it was demonstrated that the hydrophobic motifs of the substrate were responsible for the STACs mediated activation. Though there are multiple studies on SIRT1 and its activator, RSV, its mechanism of modulation by RSV is not well established. Despite its similarity to the RSV, Bromo-resveratrol acts as an inhibitor for SIRT1, and its binding site is not the same in the SIRT3-RSV complex (PDB: 4C78, Table 2; ). According to this study, Bromo-resveratrol binds not only to the active site of the protein to inhibit substrate binding but also at the second site of allosteric modulation, where it could enhance the SIRT1 activity. The structure complex study of SIRT1 with RSV by Cao et al. analyzed RSV as the SIRT1-substrate interaction stabilizer (PDB:5BTR, Table 2;; ). The study also emphasized the involvement of the NTD domain in substrate recognition of SIRT1. Though many studies have proved the SIRT1 activation by RSV through direct interaction, Cao et al. have verified this and concluded that the activation by RSV depends on the coumarin fractions of the polypeptide. This result corroborated several previous reports. In the SIRT1-RSV structure of 5BTR, the NTDs are positioned quite differently compared to the 4ZZI where SIRT1 is complexed with an activator (; Figure 7A). According to Cao et al., the binding of the substrate with RSV bridges the NTD with p53 peptide. Based on this, the study concluded that a suitable molecule that mediates this interaction between the NTD and the substrate could further be used to activate the SIRT1 allosterically. However, Dai et al. have explained the activation profile of SIRT1 across different STACs and hypothesized that according to the mini-hSIRT1-STAC complex structures (PDB: 4ZZI, Table 2; Figure 7A), the NTD mediates STAC binding and activation of deacetylation, and the shallow hydrophobic surface depression of STAC-binding site matches the hydrophobic nature of the STACs (Figure 7B). On the other hand, interactions between the CTR and catalytic domain (Figure 5B, grey-colored) enhances the basal deacetylation activity. The same study suggested that the negative charge of Glu230 plays a role in stabilizing the activated conformation of hSIRT1 where it interacts with a positively charged residue in the activated state. The crystal structure of mini-hSIRT1, in both the studies, has shed light on the catalytic domain interaction with NTD and CTR. However, due to the difficulties in obtaining a full-length X-ray crystallographic structure of the SIRT1 enzyme, understanding of the molecular details of the STACs binding site and details about activated conformation remain elusive. Multiple computational analysis were performed to study the activation mechanism of sirtuin catalysis. An in-silico docking and molecular dynamics simulation of SIRT1 with a set of known compounds namely, metformin, ursolic acid (UA), and 1,4-dihydropyridines (1,4-DHPs), showed that these compounds are direct SIRT1-activating compounds. The UA and 1,4-DHPs bind to the NTD and lead to the activation of SIRT1 through a protein–substrate interaction stabilization mechanism. The study on metformin delineates the putative binding modes to multiple pockets inside and outside of the catalytic domain, where it mimicked NAD+ boosters. According to a recent simulation study, the STACs that interact with Glu230 and Arg446 can stabilize the closed form of the SIRT1. This proves that the NTD does indeed play a significant role in SIRT1 activation and hence, designing the NTD binding compounds should be a predominant strategy for the rational drug designing for associated diseases.

47Advancing current understanding of the distinct modes of SIRT1 and SIRT2 catalytic activity has become extremely challenging since there are no specific inhibitors that target only the protein of interest without influencing other family members. Structural information on sirtuin inhibition is still insufficient and there are very few reports on structures of sirtuins in complex with inhibitors (;;;;;; Figure 7C).

48The complex structure of the SIRT5 inhibitor, suramin complex (PDB: 2NYR), represents a binding site for an inhibitor that could block the binding of both the substrate and the cofactor. Suramin shows better inhibition for SIRT1/2 as compared to SIRT5 (IC50 = 22 μM, Table 1) and the binding site is in SIRT2 is similar to SIRT5. The natural non-competitive inhibitor, nicotinamide, inhibits the deacetylation through a base-exchange mechanism. According to a study done by, the crystal structures of the complex archaeal Sir2Af2 (PDB: 1YC2, Table 2) and bacterial Sir2Tm (PDB: 1YC5) with nicotinamide have revealed the potential mechanism of sirtuin inhibitors. During the catalytic reaction, the bound nicotinamide can exist in either an entrapped or a reactive state that is interchangeable through a flipping mechanism. The study claims that the small molecules that bind to the catalytic pocket to prevent the productive conformation of NAD+ can serve as a competitive inhibitor. The non-competitive inhibitors act on the O-alkyl amidate intermediate, which leads to the base exchange. Suramin is one such non-competitive inhibitor. The crystal structure of the SIRT5-suramin complex contains one dimer in the asymmetric unit, and two suramin-linked monomers (PDB: 2NYR, Table 2; Figure 8A). Suramin mimics the interaction of nicotinamide in site-B and forms hydrogen bonds with the amino acids Tyr102, Arg105, Arg71, Arg141, and the main chain of Phe70. Tyr255 is located near the substrate-binding site and interacts with the urea carbonyl oxygen of the suramin. The molecular docking and dynamics simulation studies elucidate the importance of Arg97 and Glu167 interactions with the suramin and other inhibitors. However, severe neurotoxicity and other systemic side effects are severe disadvantages to its use in treatment.

49The indole derivatives have been widely studied for the catalytic inhibition of SIRT1 protein. In the study on the indole derivative, selisistat provided the NAD+ inhibition mechanism of catalysis. Though there are no molecular differences in the binding sites of selisistat among sirtuin isoforms, the S-isomer of selisistat, Ex-243, interacts with the catalytic intermediate and dominates inhibition. This makes the indole compound more specific to SIRT1, as discussed in studies by Napper et al. Along with the Sir2Tm complex structures, the analysis of product formation suggests that Ex-243 inhibits the enzyme by stabilizing a sirtuin complex with the coproduct. A crystal structure of SIRT1-NAD+ in complex with CHIC35 (PDB:4I5I, Table 2; Figure 8B; ), an analogue of SIRT1 inhibitor selisistat, has defined a novel mechanism of deacetylation inhibition. Compound CHIC35 and NAD+ bind cooperatively and the inhibitor binding forces the extended NAD+ conformation which inhibits the substrate binding. In this structure, F273 forms π-stacking interaction with the indole of CHIC35 (Figure 8B). The AGK2 molecule is also expected to bind in the same site of SIRT2. In 2015, Rumpf et al. obtained a complex of SIRT2-ADPR-indole by microseed matrix seeding (MMS), which also showed the same binding site for the indole derivative. However, two indole molecules were found in the catalytic site for both selisistat and CHIC35 complexes.

50Using Encoded library technology (ELT) and Structure-activity relationship (SAR), a new class of potent inhibitors based on a thieno [3,2-d] pyrimidine-6-carboxamide scaffold were discovered. As noticed in the SIRT3 complex crystal structure, the lead molecules 31 (PDB: 4JT9, Table 2), 28 (PDB: 4JT8, Table 2), and 11c (PDB: 4JSR, Table 2) are binding at the sites C and B of the catalytic site, forming a π–π stacking interaction with Phe157 through the thienopyrimidine core (Figure 8C). The complex structure of SIRT1 (PDB: 4ZZI, Table 2) with compound 31 also shows similar interactions, as seen in the SIRT3-31 complex. The binding of the inhibitor brings the small and large lobes together, leading to domain closure. The 6-carboxamide carbonyl of 11c forms hydrogen bonds with the protein backbone of Ala146, Ile230, and Asp231. The compounds lacking these hydrogen bonds were found to have reduced inhibitory activity. The ethyl piperidine of 11c with an extended conformation was bound at the hydrophobic cleft. Meanwhile, the arylamide is directed toward the substrate channel where it makes contact with Val292. The lack of this interaction also seems to affect the inhibitory activity of the compounds. However, a large portion of site-A was unoccupied, which could be further exploited efficiently to design inhibitors. All the potential lead molecules represented in the study showed low nanomolar inhibitory activity for SIRT1/2/3 and failed to have any isotypic specificity. The lack of isotypic specificity in the case of most HDAC inhibitors was later addressed in the interaction of SirReal (Sirtuin rearrangement ligands) with SIRT2. The slow-off rate and unique selectivity of these inhibitors made them a better option for therapeutics.

51The Rumpf group was successful in obtaining a crystal complex of SIRT2 with its selective inhibitor SirReal2, in which the binding of SirReal2 was found to lock the protein in its open form. As seen in the crystal structure (PDB:4RMH, Table 2; Figure 8D), the naphthyl moiety of the inhibitor protrudes into the substrate-binding site, and the dimethylmercaptopyrimidine substituent (DMP) induces the formation of a ‘selectivity pocket’. This pocket is formed by the two loops (residues 136–144, residues 188–191) of the hinge region between the Rossmann fold domain and the zinc-binding domain (Figure 7D). At the selectivity pocket, the DMP forms a π–π stacking interaction with Tyr139 and Phe190 (Figure 8D). At the acetyl-lysine binding site the naphthyl moiety of SirReal2 forms van-der-Waals contacts with Phe131, Leu134, Ile169, Ile232, Val233 and π–π interaction with Phe234. The binding of SirReal2 adopts a conformation that almost perfectly complements the SIRT2, which is not possible in other sirtuins. This is because the residues that form the selectivity pocket are significantly different from those in SIRT2. The effect of SIrReal2 was also validated in an in vivo system, which proves that targeting this unexploited pocket may present a new strategy for selective sirtuin inhibitor design. However, SirReal2 has not been analyzed yet for its effect on neuronal survival in the diseased condition. Furthermore, the modification of SirReal compounds has yielded aminothiazole inhibitor 14a with a similar binding site (PDB: 5DY4, Table 2; Figure 8D), but with improved SIRT2 inhibitory activity. The authors of this study also claimed that the quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model can rationalize the effect of designed compounds and can serve as the foundation for the development of the sirtuin rearranging ligands. The SAR analysis was utilized by Yang et al. to discover a SIRT2 inhibitor with nanomolar SIRT2 inhibitory activity. In 2017, Sundriyal et al., reported an extensive SAR study on the thienopyrimidinone SIRT2 inhibitor series and identified the key pharmacophoric elements associated with SIRT2 inhibition. The crystal structure of the complex revealed the formation of the selectivity pocket in the SIRT2 active site. However, the binding was found to be in inverted in comparison to the SirReal2 complex (Figure 8D). Unlike SirReal2, 29c induces the selectivity pocket through its 2-methoxy-naphthalen-1-yl ring forming π–π contacts with Phe119 and favourable hydrophobic interaction with the residues of the pocket (PDB: 5MAT, Table 2; ). The positioning of the naphthyl ring structure has reoriented the side chain of the selectivity pocket residues Pro140, Phe190, Tyr139, Leu206, Lys210, and Phe214. The thienopyrimidinone ring of 29c occupies the region next to NAD+ binding site while making contacts with Ile93, Pro94, Phe96, and Ile1699 (Figure 8D). Another SAR and X-ray crystallographic study discovered a substrate-mimicking SIRT2 inhibitor that can inhibit both its deacetylase and demyristoylase activities.

52A series of 2-anilinobenzamide derivatives have been synthesized and tested for their SIRT1-inhibitory activity in leukemic cells. The 3′-phenethyloxy-2-anilinobenzamide (6) derivatives represent a new class of SIRT2-isotype selective inhibitors. The binding mode of this molecule, 6, was determined by X-ray crystallography, and the structure revealed that the binding site is located at selectivity pocket (PDB:5Y5N, Table 2; Figure 8E; ). The binding mode is similar to SirReal2-SIRT2 complex; however, compound 6 interacts with the lipophilic pocket at the site-C of the cofactor binding site. Furthermore, to target the substrate-binding site, a new compound 36 (KPM-2) was designed, which was more specific to SIRT2. Thioamide 53, a conjugate of diketopiperazine and 2-anilinobenzamide, is another inhibitor that is expected to bind at the substrate-binding site and the selectivity pocket. Its structure-based drug design, using the SIRT2/33a complex, has resulted in an SIRT2 specific inhibitor 53, which was tested for neurite outgrowth-inducing activity in Neuro-2a cells. These recent discoveries provide an insight into the specific inhibitor design for SIRT2.

53A recent SAR study discovered a potent, selective SIRT2 inhibitor, which was validated in cancer cells. The N-(3-(phenoxymethyl)phenyl)acetamide derivative, 24a was suggested to bind to the distinct hydrophobic pocket at the interface of the Rossmann fold domain and the zinc-binding domain of the SIRT2 with an IC50 value of 0.815 μM (PDB:5YQO, Table 2; Figure 8F). A new SIRT2 selective inhibitor TPN0_C7 that can specifically bind at this hydrophobic pocket was synthesized by Wang et al.. Interestingly, a molecular simulation study found the residues 87–125 and 290–320 to be more flexible. The inhibitors were shown to affect the stability of residues in the hydrophobic pocket. Hence this study opened up a new potential way to explore selective inhibitors.

54There exist very few sirtuin inhibitors that interact with regions other than the catalytic site. Among such compounds are sulfate analogues, which inhibit sirtuins by binding to allosteric sites. Halistanol, a sulfate analogue (Table 2), is an antimicrobial, anti-HIV and anti-fouling compound. This compound showed SIRT1-3 inhibitory activity in HeLa and P388 cells. This inhibitory activity is suspected to be due to the detergent-like nature of the compound. However, the crystal structure suggests that the binding of the molecule induces allosteric structure changes in the SIRT3. Halistanol sulfate interacts with SIRT3 through hydrophobic interactions with Val306 and via hydrogen bonding with Gln300 and Arg301 (Figure 8G). To our knowledge, its neuroprotective effect on neurodegenerative diseases has not yet been studied.

55Virtual screening, molecular docking and simulation studies have made a significant contribution to the discovery of novel sirtuin inhibitors. Based on previous studies, it is possible to design, synthesize and screen novel indole molecules that can potentially inhibit cofactor binding. In recent years, scientists have made use of SirReal-based Proteolysis targeting chimaera (PROTAC) to inhibit SIRT2. Chroman-4-one and Chromone derivatives were also tested for SIRT2 inhibition, and 6,8-dibromo-2-pentylchroman-4-one was proved to be a potential inhibitor with an IC50 of 1.5 μM. By using previously known thiomyristoyl (TM) lysine peptides, a new soluble inhibitor glucose-conjugated TM was synthesized and crystallized in complex with SIRT2. However, as the N- and C- terminal ends of the TM structure did not contribute toward any significant binding, a new set of soluble inhibitors were designed.

56Multiple docking studies and biochemical assays have shown that the indole molecules mainly bind at the catalytic site to inhibit the deacetylating activity of the sirtuins. Other than indole molecules, benzofuran, 2-anilinobenzamide analogues, 1,4-bispiperazinecarbodithioic acid methyl esters series, chromanone derivative, oxycoumarin and diphenyl derivatives, pyrazolone and isoxazol-5-one cambinol analogues, 6,7-dichloro-2-oxindole series and a series of thieno [3,2-d] pyrimidine-6- carboxamides were reported to have high inhibition for sirtuin activity. Most of these inhibitors have not been tested on NDD models. There are very few studies that have focused on the specificity of SIRT1 inhibition and a very recent molecular dynamic simulation study revealed a novel selectivity pocket of SIRT1. The study came up with the novel amino acid coupled SIRT1 selective inhibitor. A phenyl thiocyanate was also found to be a selective inhibitor for SIRT1, as identified in a recent study. As SIRT1 inhibition was focused on cancer treatment, the inhibitory thiocyanates (S1th) were tested for antiproliferative activity, inhibition of migration, and colony formation as well as hyperacetylation of Sirt1 targets p53 and H3 in cervical cancer cells (HeLa). The inhibitor was thought to engage with the Asn465 and Asp272 through hydrogen bonds and Cys482 via covalent interaction. As mentioned earlier, the phytochemical, γ-mangostin also acted selectively on SIRT2, and the docking analysis showed the interaction of the compound with the catalytic domain. The inhibitor was found to bind between the Rossman fold, and the zinc-binding domain interacts with Gly 86, Gly 261, Glu288, Asp95, and Asn286.

57Mammalian sirtuins are a class of critical factors that have been shown to play important roles in the homeostasis of tissues and organs, as well as in the regulation of numerous cellular processes. However, the complexity of sirtuin activity, which is heavily dependent on cellular context and experimental conditions, increases the difficulties in determining how best to modulate them therapeutically. In general, the downregulation of sirtuins is associated with age-related diseases, oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, sirtuins can also show completely opposite effects. For instance, activation of SIRT1 is neuroprotective in AD, PD, and HD.

58Contrary to this, the inhibition of SIRT2 is neuroprotective in AD, PD, and HD. Hence, tissue-specific modulation of sirtuins is necessary in order to have a net neuroprotective effect in neurodegenerative diseases. As all isoforms of sirtuins possess a conserved HDAC domain, it is crucial to develop modulatory molecules specific for each type of sirtuin. This review has detailed the effects of SIRT1/2 modulators in neurodegenerative diseases and also elucidated the structural aspects in order to understand their binding site residues. A survey of the literature indicates that SIRT1/2 proteins could serve as potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, the discovery and development of sirtuin modulators are of prime importance. Currently, there are multiple pharmacological agents used to regulate sirtuins. These have been demonstrated as safe and effective in the case of neurodegenerative diseases. However, further investigation is required to understand the mechanism of activation of HDAC activity. In silico analysis has been effective in the design of drugs and developing potential ligands against neurological disorders, however, additional rigorous analysis is required.

59Multiple activators of SIRT1 are being tested for a variety of pathologies. Natural STACs (piceatannol and RSV), as well as synthetic activators (SRT2104, 1,4-DHP derivatives and SRT1720), are being tested for their specificity and efficacy. Since obtaining a full-length SIRT1 crystal structure has proven to be very difficult, there exist very limited complex structures to deduce the structural mechanism of SIRT1 activation at present. Though the SBD and CTR regions are involved in forming contacts with activators, their binding residues in SIRT1 are yet to be discovered. A ligand can allosterically activate SIRT1 when it bridges NTD with the substrate or bind to the hydrophobic motifs of NTD to stabilize the active state of the SIRT1. As a well-known HDAC activator, RSV has shown multiple health benefits in clinical trials. However, the role of RSV as a sirtuin activator is still under debate.

60The currently available inhibitors mainly target the catalytic site of the HDAC domain at Sites A, B, and C, where they either bind and inhibit the substrate and cofactor binding or allosterically change the structure of the protein. The inhibitors common to all isoforms compete either for the cofactor or the substrate-binding site. However, the non-competitive inhibitors act on an intermediate molecule of the catalysis. Both SIRT1 and SIRT2 expressions are tissue-specific and vary in different physiological conditions and diseases. The primary challenge in designing a sirtuin modulating drug is to obtain an isotype-specific molecule that can be effectively used for specific diseases. Of late, extensive usage of the ELT and SAR methodologies has led to the discovery of specific inhibitors such as SirReals for SIRT2. These techniques also shed light on unsuccessful trials of virtual screening to discover specific sirtuin modulators. This specificity is mainly due to the selectivity pocket formed by the two loops between the Rossmann fold and the Zn-binding domain. Furthermore, to discover highly sensitive and specific inhibitors, modulators were designed to target the lipophilic pocket of site C along with the selectivity pocket. According to a recent study, the hydrophobic pocket at the interface between the Rossmann fold and the Zn-binding domain could also be a new target to design selective inhibitors for SIRT2. Allosteric modulators such as SirReals could potentially show great value in the future of drug design, and multiple drug preparation trials have taken place over the past ten years that have specifically targeted sirtuins. Despite the many thousands of new investigations into drugs very few have successfully progressed to clinical trials.

61RM and FJA devised the idea of the study. RM, KA, and FJA contributed to the literature search. RM and KA designed and drafted the figures. RM prepared the initial draft of the manuscript. KA and FJA contributed to, reviewed and approved the final draft of the paper.

62This study was supported by grants from MINECO (SAF 2016–79311-R), Consejería de Educación, Cultura y Deportes (SBPLY/19/180501/000245), and UCLM (2020-GRIN-29101) to FJA.

63The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.