RNAi of mitochondrial sirtuin, sir-2.2 reduces alpha-synuclein clearance and impairs energy homeostasis in C. elegans

Mitochondria are the regulators of energy production and play a vital role in modulating ageing and age-associated diseases. We investigated the role of sirtuins, a well-studied class of longevity-associated proteins (NAD+-dependent histone deacetylases), in mitochondrial biology and Parkinson's disease pathology. In particular, we endeavored to study the functional implications of mitochondrial sirtuin, sir-2.2 (ortholog of human SIRT4), in regulating neuroprotection employing Caenorhabditis elegans model. We observed that upon sir-2.2 knockdown, the alpha-synuclein aggregation was increased and expression of dopamine transporter, dat-1, was reduced. Also, the levels of marker proteins for innate immunity, oxidative stress, mitophagy, UPRmt, and autophagy, were decreased, suggesting an important function of sir-2.2 in maintaining mitochondrial homeostasis, regulating protein clearance and ameliorating the disease condition. Because of their crucial role in regulating oxidative stress and mitochondrial quality control, studying mitochondrial sirtuin will provide therapeutic insights into the metabolic regulation of ageing and neurodegeneration.