| 2005 |
SIR2A (PfSir2) forms a chromosomal gradient of heterochromatin structure and histone hypoacetylation at telomeres, spreading >50 kb into telomere-proximal regions including var gene loci. Upon activation of a specific telomere-associated var gene, SIR2A is removed from the promoter region and histone acetylation occurs, demonstrating that mutually exclusive var gene transcription is linked to dynamic chromatin remodeling by SIR2A. |
Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), immunofluorescence, genetic disruption |
Cell |
High |
15820676
|
| 2005 |
Genetic disruption of SIR2A (PfSIR2) results in activation of var genes that are normally silenced, demonstrating that SIR2A is required for var gene silencing through heterochromatic mechanisms. |
Gene disruption (knockout) with var gene expression analysis |
Cell |
High |
15820675
|
| 2007 |
Recombinant SIR2A (PfSir2) efficiently deacetylates the N-terminal tails of histones H3 and H4 in vitro, and also catalyzes ADP-ribosylation of both histones and itself. The deacetylase activity of SIR2A is dependent on its ADP-ribosylation activity. SIR2A can be completely inhibited by nicotinamide. SIR2A co-fractionates with histones in blood-stage parasites. |
In vitro enzymatic assay with recombinant protein, histone deacetylase assay, ADP-ribosylation assay, protein fractionation |
Eukaryotic cell |
High |
17827348
|
| 2009 |
SIR2A (PfSir2A) and PfSir2B are NAD+-dependent histone deacetylases required for silencing of different var gene subsets classified by their conserved promoter type. Parasites lacking SIR2A show breakdown of mutually exclusive var gene expression. SIR2A paralogues are involved in cis spreading of silenced chromatin from var gene promoters into adjacent regions. Parasites lacking SIR2A but not Sir2B have considerably longer telomeric repeats, demonstrating a role for SIR2A specifically in telomeric end protection. |
Gene disruption (knockout), microarray expression analysis, chromatin immunoprecipitation, telomere length analysis |
PLoS biology |
High |
19402747
|
| 2008 |
SIR2A (PfSir2) is identified as a target for sumoylation (SUMO conjugation) by the P. falciparum SUMO orthologue PfSUMO, as demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation and LC-MS/MS analysis. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, western blot with anti-PfSUMO antibodies, LC-MS/MS |
Cellular microbiology |
Medium |
18547337
|
| 2008 |
SIR2A (PfSir2) and PfOrc1 both associate with telomeric clusters at the nuclear periphery and undergo coordinated subcellular reorganization prior to DNA replication, dissociating from telomere clusters and spreading into the nucleus and cytoplasm. Super gel-shift and ChIP show physical association of Orc1 with telomere repeats, and the data suggest that Orc1 cooperates with SIR2A in telomeric silencing. |
Immunofluorescence assay, chromatin immunoprecipitation, super gel-shift assay |
Journal of cell science |
Medium |
18525026
|
| 2008 |
SIR2A (PfSir2) is a NAD+-dependent deacetylase that also acts as an NAD+ glycohydrolase through two distinct mechanisms: one acetyllysine-independent (alpha-stereochemistry, insensitive to nicotinamide) and one acetyllysine-dependent (beta-stereochemistry via an imidate intermediate, inhibited by nicotinamide). These findings establish novel enzymatic reactions of SIR2A and provide mechanistic insight into sirtuin-catalyzed ADP-ribosyl transfer. |
In vitro enzymatic assay, product stereochemistry determination using methanol solvolysis and NMR/chromatography |
Biochemistry |
High |
18729382
|
| 2007 |
SIR2A (PfSir2) exhibits rapid equilibrium ordered sequential kinetic mechanism with peptide binding preceding NAD+. SIR2A forms trimers in solution (like yeast Sir2), but NAD+ causes dissociation of trimers to monomers (a feature unique to the parasite enzyme). The C-terminus mediates homotrimerization; N-terminal deletion reduces catalytic efficiency without altering substrate affinity. Deletion of both termini relaxes NAD+ specificity. Surfactin competitively inhibits SIR2A with respect to NAD+ and uncompetitively with respect to acetylated peptide. |
Bisubstrate kinetic analysis, size exclusion chromatography, N- and C-terminal deletion mutagenesis, enzyme inhibition assays |
Molecular and biochemical parasitology |
High |
18221799
|
| 2008 |
SIR2A (PfSir2) HDAC activity is present in blood-stage parasites as confirmed by specific antibodies detecting the endogenous ~30 kDa protein, and this activity can be inhibited by nicotinamide. |
Western blot with specific antibodies, in vitro HDAC activity assay, nicotinamide inhibition |
FEMS microbiology letters |
Medium |
18397290
|
| 2011 |
SIR2A (PfSir2A) preferentially hydrolyzes medium and long chain fatty acyl groups from lysine residues rather than acetyl groups, as supported by enzymology and structural evidence. P. falciparum proteins contain such fatty acyl lysine modifications that can be removed by purified SIR2A in vitro, suggesting that the physiological function of SIR2A in antigen variation may be achieved via de-fatty-acylation rather than deacetylation. |
In vitro enzymatic assay with recombinant protein, structural analysis, mass spectrometry of parasite protein fatty acyl-lysine modifications |
ACS chemical biology |
High |
21992006
|
| 2011 |
SIR2A (PfSir2A, a nuclear localized deacetylase) physically interacts with PfAlba3 and deacetylates the lysine residue of the N-terminal peptide of PfAlba3 that is specific for DNA binding. SIR2A co-localizes with PfAlba3 at the periphery of the nucleus. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, in vitro deacetylation assay, immunofluorescence colocalization |
Nucleic acids research |
Medium |
22006844
|
| 2010 |
SIR2A (PfSir2) contains a non-catalytic zinc ion coordinated by cysteine thiol groups. Zinc removal causes partial structural collapse and loss of activity; zinc reconstitution of apo-SIR2A restores both structure and activity, demonstrating reversible zinc binding as a structural requirement for enzyme function. |
Metal chelation, circular dichroism/structural assay, zinc reconstitution, enzyme activity assay |
Biochimica et biophysica acta |
Medium |
20601220
|
| 2013 |
SIR2A accumulates in the nucleolus in addition to telomeric regions. In parasites with disrupted SIR2A, histones near the transcription start sites of all ribosomal RNA genes are hyperacetylated and rRNA gene transcription is upregulated. Complementation of SIR2A-disrupted parasites restores rRNA levels; SIR2A overexpression decreases rRNA synthesis. SIR2A modulation of rRNA synthesis is linked to altered numbers of daughter merozoites and parasite multiplication rate. |
Gene disruption (knockout), complementation, overexpression, ChIP for histone acetylation at rDNA loci, RT-qPCR for rRNA levels, merozoite counting |
Nature communications |
High |
23443558
|
| 2009 |
SIR2A (PfSIR2A) knockout parasites activate ~10 specific var genes in every independent clone, biased toward upsA, upsBA, and upsE var gene subclasses, with 2–3 fold higher total var transcript levels than wildtype. At least one activated transcript (VAR2CSA) is translated and expressed on the infected cell surface. In the absence of SIR2A, antigenic switching over time is diminished but not abolished. |
Multiple independent SIR2A knockout clones, quantitative RT-PCR, var gene expression profiling, flow cytometry/surface protein detection |
International journal for parasitology |
High |
19666023
|
| 2011 |
In immature parasites lacking SIR2A, high var transcription levels correlate with enrichment of histone variant PfH2A.Z at the TSS of var genes. As SIR2A knockout parasites mature, var genes are silenced but PfH2A.Z remains enriched at var gene TSS (in contrast to SIR2B KO where PfH2A.Z is lost from the TSS of de-repressed var genes in mature parasites), indicating that PfH2A.Z occupancy at the active var promoter is antagonized by SIR2A during the intraerythrocytic life cycle. |
Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) in SIR2A and SIR2B knockout parasites at multiple life cycle stages |
PLoS pathogens |
Medium |
21379342
|
| 2012 |
Binding and propagation of PfORC1 to telomeric and subtelomeric regions was severely compromised in SIR2A-deficient parasites, suggesting dependence of endogenous ORC1 on SIR2A for var gene regulation. Conversely, overexpression of the ORC1 N-terminus compromises SIR2A binding at subtelomeric loci and var gene promoters, consistent with de-repression of some var genes. |
ChIP in SIR2A-deficient and ORC1-overexpressing parasites, immunofluorescence |
Nucleic acids research |
Medium |
22379140
|
| 2015 |
Complementation of SIR2A genetic disruption in P. falciparum 3D7 resulted in a significant decrease in previously elevated var gene expression levels but with continued expression of multiple var genes, confirming the role of SIR2A in var gene regulation but indicating incomplete restoration. Rearranged chromosomes were observed in the 3D7 SIR2A knockout line, implicating SIR2A in maintenance of genome integrity. |
Gene disruption (knockout), complementation, var gene expression profiling, chromosomal analysis |
PloS one |
Medium |
25780929
|
| 2021 |
PfHsp90 physically occupies SIR2A promoter proximal regions, recruits H3K9me3 (conferring a heterochromatic state), and thereby transcriptionally downregulates SIR2A at the mid-ring stage in response to febrile temperature. Reduced SIR2A occupancy at sub-telomeric var promoters under these conditions leads to de-repression of var genes. PfHsp90 inhibitors (17-AAG or Radicicol) reverse the transcriptional downregulation of SIR2A. |
ChIP for PfHsp90 and H3K9me3 at SIR2A promoter, RT-qPCR, pharmacological inhibition of PfHsp90 |
Molecular microbiology |
Medium |
33538363
|
| 2022 |
PfHsp90 physically interacts with SIR2A protein and acts as a chaperone required for its stability and maturation. Inhibition of PfHsp90 activity (via 17-AAG or Radicicol) results in depletion of SIR2A protein and loss of its histone deacetylase activity, leading to de-repression of var genes and loss of ribosomal silencing. |
Co-immunoprecipitation of PfHsp90 with SIR2A, pharmacological inhibition of PfHsp90, western blot for SIR2A protein levels, HDAC activity assay, RT-qPCR for var and rRNA |
mSphere |
Medium |
36121150
|
| 2023 |
SIR2A interacts with PfAlba3 and deacetylates K23-acetylated PfAlba3, enabling its DNA binding. K23 deacetylation by SIR2A serves as a molecular switch regulating the nuclease activity of PfAlba3. |
Co-immunoprecipitation, in vitro deacetylation assay, mass spectrometric analysis of acetylation sites, mutational studies |
Cell reports |
Medium |
36947546
|
| 2025 |
SIR2A mediates the coupling of NAD+ levels to rDNA silencing. Disruption of NAD+ regeneration during lactate fermentation promotes rDNA de-repression, and SIR2A is identified as the mediator between fluctuating NAD+ levels and rRNA transcriptional outcomes. This links rDNA activation to the metabolic state of the parasite as it transitions from aerobic glycolysis to mitochondrial respiration during host-to-vector transmission. |
Metabolic perturbation (disruption of NAD+ regeneration), genetic analysis, chromatin/epigenetic assays for rDNA silencing signatures |
Nature communications |
Medium |
41419483
|
| 2025 |
In P. yoelii, Sir2A physically interacts with GCβ (guanylyl cyclase beta) throughout ookinete development, identified by protein proximity labeling. In mature ookinetes, Sir2A co-localizes with GCβ at the ookinete extrados site (OES) in a mutually dependent manner. Sir2A deacetylates GCβ (which is acetylated in gametocytes) to promote its OES localization. Parasites lacking Sir2A lose GCβ localization at OES, ookinete gliding, and mosquito infection. Elevated NAD+ levels in mature ookinetes drive Sir2A-catalyzed GCβ deacetylation. |
Protein proximity labeling (BioID), gene knockout, immunofluorescence colocalization, in vivo deacetylation assay, NAD+ quantification, mosquito infection assay |
Nature communications |
High |
40050296
|
| 2024 |
SIR2A (PfSir2A) exhibits greater enzymatic activity (both deacetylase and de-fatty-acylase) in the presence of DNA for peptide and histone protein substrates. SIR2A demonstrates robust deacetylase activity against nucleosome substrates, stemming from tight binding interactions with the nucleosome. Free fatty acids are endogenous regulators of SIR2A; myristic acid activates deacetylation but inhibits de-fatty-acylation. Synthetic small molecule inhibitors of SIR2A were identified from a sirtuin regulator library. |
In vitro enzymatic assay with DNA/nucleosome substrates, biochemical binding analysis, fatty acid supplementation assay, compound library screening |
RSC chemical biology |
High |
39386451 39897407
|
| 2022 |
SIR2A histone deacetylase domain is used as a functional epigenetic repressor in a CRISPRi system (dCas9-Sir2a fusion) to transcriptionally downregulate target genes in P. falciparum without permanent genome changes, demonstrating the sufficiency of the SIR2A deacetylase domain for targeted chromatin silencing. |
CRISPRi with dCas9-Sir2a fusion, rapamycin-inducible DiCre/loxP system, RT-qPCR for target gene expression |
Microbiology spectrum |
Low |
35510853
|