SIRT6 Promotes Hepatic Beta-Oxidation via Activation of PPARα

Abstract

Summary: The pro-longevity enzyme SIRT6 regulates various metabolic pathways. Gene expression analyses in SIRT6 heterozygotic mice identify significant decreases in PPARα signaling, known to regulate multiple metabolic pathways. SIRT6 binds PPARα and its response element within promoter regions and activates gene transcription. Sirt6+/− results in significantly reduced PPARα-induced β-oxidation and its metabolites and reduced alanine and lactate levels, while inducing pyruvate oxidation. Reciprocally, starved SIRT6 transgenic mice show increased pyruvate, acetylcarnitine, and glycerol levels and significantly induce β-oxidation genes in a PPARα-dependent manner. Furthermore, SIRT6 mediates PPARα inhibition of SREBP-dependent cholesterol and triglyceride synthesis. Mechanistically, SIRT6 binds PPARα coactivator NCOA2 and decreases liver NCOA2 K780 acetylation, which stimulates its activation of PPARα in a SIRT6-dependent manner. These coordinated SIRT6 activities lead to regulation of whole-body respiratory exchange ratio and liver fat content, revealing the interactions whereby SIRT6 synchronizes various metabolic pathways, and suggest a mechanism by which SIRT6 maintains healthy liver. : How the pro-longevity enzyme SIRT6 coordinates between various metabolic pathways is still obscure. Here, Naiman et al. show that SIRT6 activates PPARα to promote fatty acid beta oxidation and inhibit pyruvate oxidation during fasting. This ultimately decides the energy source under nutrient-limited conditions, promoting fat usage over other energy sources. Keywords: SIRT6, PPARα, beta-oxidation, liver, deacetylase, fasting