LAMIN A, AN ACTIVATOR OF LONGEVITY/ANTI- AGING SIRTl PROTEIN

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Serial No. 61/725,252, filed November 12, 2012, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Sirtuins (silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog), class III HDACs containing NAD ⁺ -dependent protein deacetylase and ADP-ribosyltransferase activities, regulate various metabolic pathways (Denu, 2005; Donmez and Guarente, 2010; Finkel et al., 2009; Haigis and Sinclair, 2010).

Of seven mammalian sirtuins, SIRTl (NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1) is the closest homolog of Saccharomyces cerevesiae Sir2 (silent information regulator 2) identified three decades ago (Klar et al., 1979). Loss of SIRTl causes defective gametogenesis, heart and retinal abnormalities, genomic instability, small body size, and reduced survival in mice (Cheng et al., 2003; McBurney et al., 2003; Wang et al., 2008); and abolishes many beneficial effects of dietary restriction (Chen et al., 2005). Although lifespan extension in Saccharomyces cerevesiae, C. elegans and Drosophila by ectopic Sir2 is still under debate (Burnett et al., 201 1; Lombard et al., 2011; Tissenbaum and Guarente, 2001; Viswanathan and Guarente, 2011 ; Viswanathan et al., 2005), transgenic mice with additional copies of SIRTl show phenotypes resembling dietary restriction and consistent with improved healthspan (Alcendor et al., 2007; Banks et al, 2008; Bordone et al, 2007; Herranz et al, 2010; Pfiuger et al, 2008).

SIRTl deacetylates a variety of proteins, including KU70, Nbsl, p53, NF-κΒ, PPARy, PGC-Ια, FOXO, and SUV39H1, and regulates genomic integrity, the inflammatory response, adipogenesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, and stress resistance (Lavu et al., 2008). For example, SIRTl catalyzes the deacetylation of tumor suppressor protein p53, thus promoting survival by inhibiting p53-mediated apoptosis (Cheng et al., 2003). SIRTl also directly interacts with PPAR-γ and PGC-Ια, thus regulating metabolic response (Picard et al., 2004; Rodgers et al., 2005).

In addition, SIRTl deacetylates Foxo3a to enhance stress resistance through Foxo3a targets such as MnSOD, catalase, and Gadd45a (Brunei et al., 2004). SIRTl is highly expressed in embryonic stem cells (ESCs), but its expression is reduced in differentiated cells through a process mediated by miRNAs (Saunders et al., 2010). SIRTl is required for maintenance of self-renewal of ESCs via modulating p53 cellular distribution and Nanog expression (Han et al., 2008). The hematopoietic differentiation of ESCs is defective and the number and function of hematopoietic progenitor cells decline in SIRTl ^ and SIRTl ^+/~ mice (Lee et al., 2011). When cultured under 5% oxygen, both SIRTl ^ and SIRTl ^+/~ hematopoietic progenitor cells exhibit defective proliferation compared with wild-type cells (Mantel et al., 2008).

SIRTl is one of the most conserved anti-aging/longevity-promoting proteins across species. Increase in SIRTl deacetylase activity confers many beneficial effects on various mouse models mimicking human metabolic or degenerative diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and Alzheimer's Diseases. Therefore, SIRTl -activating compounds could benefit human patients suffering from various metabolic and aging-related degenerative diseases. On the other hand, SIRTl protein is found upregulated in various human cancers, and inhibition of SIRTl activity could help in eliminating cancer stem cells (Li et al., 2012).

Increased SIRTl activity has been documented as beneficial in many disease models and human patients; therefore, it has been widely accepted that SIRT 1 -activating compounds could provide therapeutic benefits for various metabolic and degenerative diseases (Baur, 2010). On the other hand, the suppressing role for SIRTl in p53 apoptotic activity suggests tumor-promoting properties of SIRTl (Luo et al., 2001). Indeed SIRTl protein has been reported to be elevated in many types of neoplasia, including prostate cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, colon cancer, and various non-melanoma skin cancers (Deng, 2009). It has been recently reported that inhibiting SIRT1 activates p53, thus facilitating the elimination of leukemia stem cells (Li et al., 2012). Therefore, SIRT1 -inhibiting compounds confer therapeutic potentials for various human malignancies. Resveratrol, a compound identified in a screen for SIRT1 activators, has been reported to increase lifespan in yeast, worms, and flies, and to enhance healthspan in rodents (Agarwal and Baur, 2011 ; Baur et al, 2006; Howitz et al, 2003; Milne et al, 2007; Wood et al, 2004). Beneficial effects of resveratrol have been reported on aging-related cataracts, reduced bone density, neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, and diabetes. Resveratrol induces multiple gene expression alterations, mimicking multiple gene expression alterations induced by calorie restriction (CR) (Pearson et al., 2008). Consumption of ResVida ^® , a resveratrol-containing composition, confers significant metabolic changes similar to that of CR in obese human individuals (Timmers et al., 2011). Studies involving another resveratrol-containing nutraceutical, Longevinex ^® , revealed that short-term consumption of the nutraceutical can recapitulate the long-term effects of CR (Barger et al., 2008).

A-type nuclear lamins, encoded by the LMNA locus, are type V intermediate filament proteins. The two most prominent A-type lamins, lamin A and C, only differ in the C-terminus where CaaX motif dictates a series of processing events including transient isoprenylation (Rusinol and Sinensky, 2006). A de novo G608G mutation in LMNA promotes alternate splicing, yielding a partially processed prelamin A (also referred to as progerin) that is the predominant cause of Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, a severe form of early-onset premature aging (Eriksson et al., 2003). Mice deficient for Zmpste24, a metalloproteinase responsible for prelamin A maturation, manifest many of the progeroid features resembling Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) patients (Pendas et al., 2002).

The present inventors and other researchers have shown that HGPS skin fibroblasts and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ embryos undergo early senescence attributable to genomic instability and hyperactivation of the p53 pathway, and that reduction of the prelamin A level in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice by Lmna heterozygosity ameliorates progeroid phenotypes and significantly extends lifespan (Fong et al., 2004; Liu et al., 2005; Varela et al., 2005). Human cells engineered to express progerin exhibited defective proliferation and premature senescence (Candelario et al., 2008; Kudlow et al., 2008).

Lamin A/C is a major component of the nuclear matrix (NM), a filamentous nucleo skeleton distinct from chromatin and important for maintaining nuclear structure (Fey et al., 1991). Chromatin and other proteins dynamically associate with the NM to regulate various nuclear activities, including replication, gene transcription, DNA repair, and chromatin organization (Blencowe et al., 1994; Kruhlak et al., 2000; Phair and Misteli, 2000). For example, the NM co-purifies with a majority of the nuclear histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity (Downes et al, 2000; Hendzel et al, 1991 ; Li et al, 1996). One of the hallmarks of HGPS and Zmpste24 ^~/~ cells is a misshaped nucleus, which leads to disorganized heterochromatin (Liu et al., 2005; Pendas et al., 2002; Scaffidi and Misteli, 2005) and mislocalized nuclear proteins, such as ATR, SKIP, XPA and Mof (Krishnan et al, 2011 ; Liu et al, 2005; Liu et al, 2008; Manju et al, 2006; Pendas et al, 2002; Scaffidi and Misteli, 2005, 2006, 2008). Rescue of nuclear shape abnormality by reducing unprocessed prelamin A or progerin from the nuclear envelope via treatment with farnesyl transferase inhibitor (FTI) significantly ameliorates progeroid features in both HGPS cells and mouse models (Capell et al., 2005; Fong et al., 2006; Glynn and Glover, 2005; Toth et al, 2005; Varela et al, 2008).

Alternate splicing events at the wild type LMNA locus can lead to expression of low levels of progerin, which may affect the normal aging process (Scaffidi and Misteli, 2006). An increased number of cells expressing progerin were found during aging in normal individuals (McClintock et al., 2007) and telomere shortening or dysfunction activates progerin production (Cao et al., 2011). These findings suggest that progerin may contribute to the normal aging process (Burtner and Kennedy, 2010), possibly through modulating the activity of proteins implicated in aging.

Over the past several years, calorie restriction (CR)-mimicking properties of resveratrol and SIRT1 protein have attracted considerable efforts in searching for resveratrol mimics and SIRT1 activators. Compounds exhibiting significantly higher SIRT 1 -activating potential than resveratrol have been identified, and these compounds can elicit similar CR-mimicking beneficial effects as that of resveratrol. In addition, it has been reported that resveratrol specifically enhances SIRT1 activity towards a fluoropho re-conjugated synthetic peptide (Ac-Arg-His-Lys-Lys ^Ac -AMC) (SEQ ID NO: 1) rather than the unmodified one (Borra et al, 2005; Kaeberlein et al., 2005). This observation was later confirmed by other researchers, showing that resveratrol and SRT1720 do not confer any SIRT1 activation towards its full-length native target proteins, including p53 and PGC-Ια (Beher et al., 2009; Dai et al., 2010; Pacholec et al., 2010). Therefore, despite various beneficial effects of resveratrol and mimics, the underlying mechanism is still unclear.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods of modulating the deacetylase activity of SIRT1 in one or more cell by modifying the binding affinity of lamin A to SIRT1 via an interaction modifying compound. The deacetylase activity of SIRT1 can be increased by an increased binding affinity of lamin A to SIRT 1 and decreased by a decreased binding affinity of lamin A to SIRT1. An example of an interaction modifying compound includes, but is not limited to, resveratrol. Resveratrol increases the binding affinity of lamin A to SIRT1 in embodiments described herein. In some embodiments of the present invention, SIRT1 deacetylase activity is modulated via an interaction modifying compound by enhancing the binding capacity of the carboxyl terminus of lamin A protein to SIRT1 protein. In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods of screening for agents that modulate SIRTl deacetylase activity based on the interaction between lamin A and SIRTl proteins and SIRTl -activating/inhibiting properties of lamin A. Some methods include contacting a candidate molecule with cells expressing SIRTl in a test sample; determining deacetylase activity in the test sample; and selecting the candidate molecule as an agent that modulates SIRTl deacetylase activity if the molecule changes the level of SIRTl deacetylase activity in the test sample. Candidate molecules that activate or enhance SIRTl deacetylase activity include, but are not limited to, peptide fragments of lamin A, including peptide fragments of the carboxyl domain of lamin A; analogs of lamin A, including peptide fragments of such analogs; compounds that enhance the binding of lamin A to SIRTl ; compounds that enhance or induce the expression of lamin A; and combinations thereof. Candidate molecules that inhibit or reduce SIRTl deacetylase activity include, but are not limited to, peptide fragments of lamin A, including the carboxyl domain of the lamin A peptide; analogs of lamin A, including peptide fragments of such analogs; agents or compounds that inhibit lamin A activity; agents or compounds that inhibit expression of lamin A; and combinations thereof.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating a disease or condition in which modulated SIRTl deacetylase activity is beneficial. Methods include administering to a subject in need of such treatment, an effective amount of an agent that modulates SIRTl deacetylase activity. In some embodiments, the agent administered increases SIRTl deacetylase activity. Examples of SIRTl -activating compounds include, but are not limited to, peptide fragments of lamin A, including fragments of the carboxyl domain of lamin A; analogs of the lamin A, or fragments thereof; compounds that enhance the binding of lamin A to SIRTl ; and combinations thereof. In other embodiments, the agent administered decreases SIRTl deacetylase activity. Such agents include, but are not limited to, carboxyl terminal peptides of lamin A, and analogs of carboxyl terminal peptides of lamin A. Embodiments of methods of the present invention that result in increased SIRTl deacetylase activity are useful in treating diseases or conditions where it is beneficial to increase the number and/or function of bone marrow stromal cells and/or hematopoietic stem cells, such as, but not limited to, metabolic and/or aging-related degenerative diseases. As a result, for example, an increase in bone density and prevention of bone loss can occur. Furthermore, embodiments of methods of the present invention that result in decreased SIRTl deacetylase activity are useful in treating neoplasia and other malignancies.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods for increasing SIRTl deacetylase activity in one or more cell. Methods include administering to, or contacting, one or more cell that expresses SIRTl , and is in need of increased SIRTl deacetylase activity, a lamin A peptide, an analog of the lamin A peptide, or functional fragment thereof, in an amount effective to increase the deacetylase activity of SIRTl . In one embodiment, the lamin A peptide useful according to the present invention is of human origin, having the amino acid sequence of (SEQ ID NO:2; GenBank Accession No. NP_733821), or an analog thereof. In one embodiment, the functional fragment of the lamin A peptide that increases SIRT 1 deacetylase activity comprises the carboxyl domain of lamin A, or an analog thereof. The carboxyl domain of the lamin A peptide may include the amino acids 567-646 of SEQ ID NO:2, or one or more fragment thereof. Particularly useful fragments are from about 3 amino acids to about 50 amino acids in length.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods for decreasing or inhibiting SIRTl deacetylase activity in one or more cell. Methods include administering to one or more cell that expresses SIRTl, and is in need of decreased SIRTl deacetylase activity, an inhibitor of the lamin A protein or peptide. Lamin A inhibitors useful according to embodiments of the present invention include, but are not limited to, agents that inhibit lamin A activity; and agents that reduce or inhibit the expression of lamin A, such as agents that inhibit the transcription, translation, and/or processing of lamin A. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows that SIRT1 interacts with lamin A, and that the formation of prelamin A progerin jeopardizes the SIRT1 -lamin A interaction. (A) FLAG-SIRT1 and lamin A were ectopically expressed in HEK293 cells. By Western blotting, lamin A was detected in anti-FLAG immunoprecipitates; FLAG-SIRT1 was detected in anti-lamin A C immunoprecipitates. (B) In total cell lysate of HEK293 cells, endogenous SIRT1 was pulled down by anti-lamin A/C immunoprecipitates and reciprocally; endogenous lamin A was pulled down by anti-SIRTl immunoprecipitates. (C) Immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy of SIRT1 and lamin A/C in human fibroblasts. Majority of nuclear SIRT1 co-localizes with lamin A in the nuclear interior (arrows). Scale bar, 5 μηι. (D) Confocal microscopy showed co-localization of ectopic EGFP-SIRT1 and DsRed- lamin A in human fibroblast cells. Scale bar, 10 μηι. (E) Recombinant human SIRT1 (rhSIRTl) was pulled down by anti-lamin A immunoprecipitates in test tubes containing rhSIRTl and recombinant human lamin A (rhLamin A). (F) Lamin A, but not lamin C, was pulled down in anti-FLAG-SIRTl immunoprecipitates in HEK293 cells. (G) HEK293 cells were transiently transfected with FLAG-SIRT1 together with one of the A- type lamins, i.e., wild-type lamin A, unprocessible prelamin A, and progerin. Western blotting was performed to determine levels of A-type lamins in anti-FLAG immunoprecipitates. Note that significantly less prelamin A/progerin was pulled down by anti-FLAG antibody compared with wild-type lamin A. (H) Quantification of (G). Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. **P < 0.01.

Figure 2 shows mislocalization and reduced deacetylase activity of SIRT1 in progeroid cells. (A) Representative immunoblot showing various proteins in nuclear (Nu, PI) and nuclear matrix (NM, P2') fractions. NM-associated SIRT1 was significantly reduced in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ BMSCs, whereas levels of Sirt6, CBP, Foxo3a, histone H3 and β-actin were comparable between wild-type and Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ BMSCs in NM fraction. Total nuclear level of SIRT1 was not changed. (B) Quantification of (A). Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. **P < 0.01. (C) Lamin A, unprocessible prelamin A or progerin was stably expressed in HEK293 cells. Subcellular fractionation and Western blotting were performed to determine the NM associated SIRT1. While NM-association of SIRT1 was reduced in prelamin A- and progerin-transfected cells compared with wild-type lamin A, the levels of Foxo3a and β-Catenin remained unchanged. (D) Quantification of (C). Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. **P < 0.01. (E) Hyperacetylation of Foxo3a in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ BMSCs determined by Western blotting with anti-acetyl lysine antibodies in anti-Foxo3a immunoprecipitates. (F) Quantification of (E). Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01. (G) Upper, acetylation of Foxo3a in HEK293 cells expressing ectopic lamin A or prelamin A or progerin determined by Western blotting with anti-acetyl lysine antibodies in anti Foxo3a immunoprecipitates; lower, expression of catalase, MnSOD and GADD45a in the input.

Figure 3 shows that resveratrol directly activates SIRT1 in a lamin A-dependent manner. (A) RhSIRTl deacetylase activity was determined by BioMol ^® SIRT1 Fluorimetric Drug Discovery Kit (BSDK) in the presence or absence of rhLamin A. Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 , rhLamin A + rhSIRTl Vs rhSIRTl only. ***The molar ratio of rhLamin A to rhSIRTl is 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 respectively. (B) Acetyl FLAG-p53 was incubated with rhSIRTl and rhLamin A in the presence or absence of resveratrol. FLAG-p53 acetylation was detected by Western blotting with anti-acetyl lysine antibodies. Relative level of acetylated p53 was quantified by Image J ^® . *The molar ratio of rhLamin A to rhSIRTl is 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 respectively. (C) Level of rhSIRTl pulled down by anti-lamin A C antibody in the presence or absence of resveratrol was assessed by Western blotting. (D) FLAG-SIRT1 and lamin A were co-transfected into HEK293 cells. Cells were treated with resveratrol followed by anti-FLAG immunoprecipitation. Western blotting showed that resveratrol treatment increased the interaction between SIRT 1 and lamin A in a dose-dependent manner. (E) Quantification of (D). Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. *P < 0.05. (F) Representative immunoblot in wild-type, SIRT1 null and Lmna null cells treated with different doses of resveratrol. (G) Immunofluorescence staining of H3K9ac in wild-type and Lmna null cells treated or untreated with resveratrol. (H) Resveratrol enhanced the association of rhSIRTl with NM in test tube. Recombinant hSIRTl was incubated with NM fraction prepared from wild-type or Zmpste24 ^~/~ BMSCs in the presence and absence of resveratrol (10 μΜ) in a similar way as the SIRTl deacetylase activity assay was performed. Insoluble NM and reaction buffer were separated by centrifugation. Western blotting and Coomassie Blue staining were performed to determine the level of rhSIRTl .

Figure 4 shows that resveratrol rescues the decline of bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice in SIRTl -dependent manner. (A) Resveratrol (10 μΜ) increased colony-forming capacity of Zmpste24 ^~/~ BMSCs. Colony-forming assay was performed on freshly isolated bone marrow cells in 10 cm dishes in the presence and absence of resveratrol. (B) Colony number counting. Data showed that resveratrol (RSV) increased colony-formation capacity of Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ BMSCs in a dose-dependent manner (2 μΜ and 10 μΜ). Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 4. *P < 0.05, RSV Vs Vehicle. (C) Left, level of prelamin A pull down by anti SIRTl immunoprecipitates in BMSCs treated or untreated with resveratrol (2 μΜ) was determined by Immunoblotting; right, level of acetylated Foxo3a in resveratrol was assessed by Immunoblotting. (D) Levels of catalase and Gadd45a in SIRTl or scramble siRNA treated Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ BMSCs in the presence or absence of resveratrol (10 μΜ) determined by Western blotting. (E) Colony-forming capacity of Zmpste24 ^~/~ BMSCs by SIRTl or scramble knocking down in the presence or absence of resveratrol. Resveratrol treatment (10 μΜ) increased the colony-forming capacity in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ BMSCs (left) and this was completely abolished by knocking down SIRTl (right). Colony forming assay was done on freshly isolated cells in 6-well plates. (F) Quantification of (E). Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 5. *P < 0.05, "Scramble + RSV" Vs "Scramble + Veh". (G) Levels of H3K9ac and IR-induced -H2AX with or without ectopic SIRTl in wild-type and Zmpste24 null BMSCs were assessed by Western blotting. (H) Ectopic SIRTl increased the colony-forming capacity of Zmpste24 ^~/~ and wild-type BMSCs. Colony-forming assay was performed on freshly isolated cells in 6 cm dishes. (I) Quantification of (H). Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 5. *P < 0.05, SIRT1 Vs Mock.

Figure 5 shows that resveratrol rescues ASC decline, ameliorates progeroid features, and extends lifespan in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice. (A) Colony-forming capacity of BMSCs in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice treated with either vehicle or resveratrol (20 μg/ml in drinking water). Colony-forming assays were performed on freshly isolated bone marrow cells in 10 cm dishes. (B) Quantification of (A). Data represent average colony number of BMSCs ± SEM, n=3. *P < 0.05. (C) Levels of catalase, acetylated p53 and H3K9ac in BMSCs isolated from vehicle -treated and resveratrol-treated Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. (D) Feeding Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice with resveratrol increased HSC population. Each dot represents the percentage of HSC population in total bone marrow mononucleated cells in individual mouse. *P < 0.05, vehicle -treated Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice Vs wild-type and resveratrol-treated (20 μg/ml in drinking water) Vs vehicle-treated Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. (E) Micro-CT examination of trabecular bone structure in wild-type mice and in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice treated with either resveratrol (20 μg/ml in drinking water) or vehicle. (F) Resveratrol-treatment increased bone mineral density in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice. Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. *P < 0.05, vehicle -treated Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice Vs wild-type and resveratrol-treated (20 μg/ml in drinking water) Vs vehicle-treated Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. (G) Body weight in resveratrol-treated and vehicle-treated male Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice. Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 10. *P < 0.05. (H) Body weight in resveratrol-treated and vehicle-treated female Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 10. *P < 0.05. (I) Survival rate in resveratrol-treated and vehicle-treated Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice. P < 0.0001. (J) Maximal lifespan in resveratrol-treated and vehicle -treated Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice. Data represent mean ± SEM. **Ρ < 0.01.

Figure 6 shows that lamin A interacts with SIRT1. (A) Endogenous interaction between lamin A and SIRT1 in BMSCs was determined by co-immunoprecipitation. (B) Endogenous interaction between lamin A and SIRT1 in wilt-type and Lmna null mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) was determined by co-immunoprecipitation. (C) Interaction between GFP-lamin A and SIRTl, SIRT2 and SIRT5 was assessed by anti GFP co-immunoprecipitation.

Figure 7 shows mislocalization and reduced deacetylase activity of SIRTl in progeria cells and activation of SIRTl by resveratrol in the presence of lamin A. (A) Expression of Kap-1 and Mcm3 in different subcellular fractions. Cells were fractionated and the subcellular distribution of Kap-1 and Mcm3 was determined by Western blotting. (B) SIRTl ^ and wild-type MEFs were fractionated into cytoplasmic (Cyto, SI), nucleoplasmic/chromatic (Np+Chr, S2'), and nuclear matrix (NM, P2') fractions. Representative immunoblot showing the NM association of SIRTl . (C) SIRTl expression in nuclear and NM fractions determined by Western blotting in dermal fibroblasts derived from healthy individual and patients with different LMNA gene mutations. Note that the NM-associated SIRTl was significantly down-regulated in HGPS cells compared to that in cells from healthy individual or from patients with non-progeria LMNA mutations. The total nuclear level of SIRTl was also decreased in HGPS cells. (D) Quantification of SIRTl in human cells. Significant down- regulation of NM-associated SIRTl relative to total nuclear SIRTl in HGPS fibroblasts, compared with that in dermal fibroblasts from non-progeria laminopathy patients and healthy individual. (E) RhSIRTl deacetylase activity was determined in the presence of cytoplasmic or NM fraction. The relative increase in deacetylase activity after addition of rhSIRTl to the assay buffer, cytoplasmic or NM was determined and plotted. The NM from wild-type BMSCs potentiated rhSIRTl deacetylase activity whereas the stimulating capacity of NM from Zmpste24 ^~/~ BMSCs was greatly compromised. Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. *P < 0.05. (F) Acetyl FLAG-p53 was incubated with rhSIRTl in the presence or absence of rhLamin A and resveratrol. FLAG-p53 acetylation was detected by Western blotting with anti-acetyl lysine antibodies. (G) Resveratrol enhanced NM-association of SIRTl in wild-type and Zmpste24 ^~/~ BMSCs determined by Western blotting. (H) Quantification of (G). Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. *P < 0.05. (I) Nuclear matrix (NM) fraction preserves SIRTl deacetylase activity. Recombinant human SIRTl (rhSIRTl) deacetylase activity was determined by BioMol® SIRTl Fluorimetric Drug Discovery Kit in the presence or absence of nuclear matrix fraction. Suramin Sodium was applied as an inhibitor of SIRTl . The relative rhSIRTl deacetylase activity was plotted. Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. *P < 0.05.

Figure 8 shows effects of resveratrol on Zmpste24 ^~/~ mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). (A) Cellular senescence determined by senescence-associated β-galactosidase assay in Zmpste24 ^~/~ MEFs treated with resveratrol. (B) Levels of pl6 ^ink4a in resveratrol-treated MEF cells determined by Western blotting.

Figure 9 shows accelerated ASC decline in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. (A) Number of BMSC colonies after 12-days culture. Colony-forming assay was performed in 10 cm dishes with freshly isolated bone marrow cells from 4-month-old wild-type and Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 5. *P < 0.01. (B) Colonies of magnetically enriched BMSCs from either wild-type or mutant mice in 10 cm dishes after 12-days culture. (C) Proliferative capacity of enriched BMSCs from 1 -month and 5-months wild-type and Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice. Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. **P < 0.001. (D) Senescence-associated β-galactosidase assay in enriched BMSCs from 1 -month-old wild-type and Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice. Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. **Ρ < 0.001. (E) Total number of mononucleated cells in femurs and tibias from 4-month-old wild-type and Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. Data represent mean ± SEM, n =6. *P < 0.05. (F) Representative FACS profiles of HSCs in bone marrow from 4-month-old Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ and wild-type mice. Gate R4 represents HSC population (Lineage FltS Sca-l^-Kit ¹ " ⁸¹¹ ). Note reduced HSC population in Zmpste24 ^_/" mice. (G) Percentage of HSC population in total mononucleated cells in bone marrow of 1 -month-old, 2-month-old and 4-month-old wild-type and Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. *P < 0.01. (H) HSCs from 1 -month-old wild-type or Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice were transplanted into lethally irradiated recipients. In wild-type transplanted recipients, B cell differentiation was not affected at 1 , 4 or 6 months; in recipients repopulated with Zmpste24 ^~/~ donors, the B cell lineage was greatly reduced 4 months after transplantation. **P < 0.001, Zmpste24 ^~/~ vs Zmpste24 ^+/+ .

Figure 10 shows that N-acetyl cysteine feeding rescues ASC decline and extends lifespan in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. (A) Colony forming unit-fibroblast (CFU-F) of enriched BMSCs determined in the presence or absence of H ₂ O ₂ . Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. *P < 0.05. (B) Elevated ROS level in freshly isolated Zmpste24 ^~/~ HSCs compared with that in wild-type HSCs (left) and rescued ROS level by N-acetyl Cysteine (NAC, 1 mg/ml in drinking water) (right). (C) Colony-forming efficiency of BMSCs in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice treated with either vehicle or NAC (1 mg/ml in drinking water). Colony-forming assays were performed on freshly isolated bone marrow cells in 10 cm dishes. Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. *P < 0.05. (D) Percentage of bone marrow HSC population in vehicle-treated and NAC -treated Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. *P < 0.05, vehicle-treated Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice Vs wild-type and NAC-treated Vs vehicle-treated Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice. (E) Body weight of vehicle-treated and NAC-treated Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice at 4-months of age. Data represent mean ± SEM, n =12. *P < 0.05, NAC-treated Vs vehicle-treated. (F) Survival rate of vehicle-treated and NAC-treated Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. P < 0.0001.

Figure 11 (A) Recombinant human SIRT1 (rhSIRTl) was pulled down by anti lamin A immunoprecipitates in test tube containing rhSIRTl and recombinant human lamin A (rhLamin A). (B) RhSIRTl deacetylase activity was determined by BioMol ^® SIRT1 Fluorimetric Drug Discovery Kit (BSDK) in the presence or absence of rhLamin A. Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, rhLamin A + rhSIRTl Vs rhSIRTl only. ***The molar ratio of rhLamin A to rhSIRTl is 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 respectively. (C) Acetyl FLAG-p53 was incubated with rhSIRTl in the presence or absence of rhLamin A. FLAG-p53 acetylation was detected by Western blotting with anti-acetyl lysine antibodies. Relative level of acetylated p53 was quantified by Image J ^® . *The molar ratio of rhLamin A to rhSIRTl is 0.5 and 1.0 respectively. (D) RhSIRTl deacetylase activity was determined by BioMol ^® SIRT1 Fluorimetric Drug Discovery Kit (BSDK) in the presence or absence of LA-80 (synthetic peptide of carboxyl 80 aa of lamin A). Data represent mean ± SEM, n = 3. **P < 0.01 , LA-80 + rhSIRTl Vs rhSIRTl only. (E) Acetyl FLAG-p53 was incubated with rhSIRTl in the presence of various amount of LA-80. FLAG-p53 acetylation was detected by Western blotting with anti-acetyl lysine antibodies (left). Relative level of acetylated p53 was quantified by Image J ^® (right).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCES SEQ ID NO:l is the amino acid sequence useful according to the present invention. SEQ ID NO:2 is the amino acid sequence of the human lamin A protein.

DETAILED DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods of screening SIRTl -activating/inhibiting compounds based on the interaction between lamin A and SIRTl proteins and SIRT 1 -activating property of lamin A. In another embodiment, the present invention provides uses of SIRTl -activating compounds to treat patient(s)/subject(s) suffering from metabolic and/or aging-related degenerative diseases, and uses of SIRT 1 -inhibiting compounds to treat human malignancies. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods of modulating the deacetylase activity of SIRTl by modifying the binding affinity of lamin A to SIRTl via interaction modifying compound(s).

Activation of SIRTl Deacetylase Activity by Lamin A

Given the essential roles of the nuclear matrix (NM) in preserving HDAC activity and the longevity -promoting properties of resveratrol, the potential effect of lamin A on SIRTl is determined. The results show that lamin A directly interacts with SIRTl and serves as an activator of SIRTl on the NM; prelamin A and progerin exhibit significantly reduced binding capacity to SIRTl , therefore mis-localize SIRTl from the NM, leading to rapid decline of ASCs in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. Resveratrol increases the binding of SIRTl with A-type lamins both in vitro and in vivo, and thus can enhance the deacetylase activity of SIRTl, restore ASC population, ameliorate progeroid features, and extend lifespan in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice.

The present invention shows that lamin A is an activator of SIRTl ; Resveratrol activates SIRTl via increasing its interaction with lamin A; Resveratrol rescues ASC decline in the SIRTl -dependent manner; and Resveratrol-treatment alleviates progeroid features and extends lifespan in progeria mice.

The present invention shows that nuclear lamin A protein forms complex with longevity/anti-aging SIRTl protein in vivo. Lamin A protein directly binds to SIRTl protein. Lamin A activates SIRTl deacetylase activity towards both a fiuoropho re-conjugated synthetic peptide (Ac-Arg-His-Lys- Lys ^Ac -AMC) and a full-length acetylated FLAG-p53 protein (a known target of SIRTl protein). Synthesized peptide, containing 80 amino acids on the carboxyl terminus of lamin A protein, confers much higher activating potential on SIRTl towards both a fluorophore-conjugated synthetic peptide (Ac-Arg-His-Lys- Lys ^Ac -AMC) and a full-length acetylated FLAG-p53 protein.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods of screening small peptides of lamin A protein that activate SIRTl deacetylase activity. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods for identifying lamin A-peptide-mimicking compounds to activate or inhibit SIRTl protein. In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods for identifying compounds that modulate the interaction between lamin A protein and SIRTl protein thus to activate or inhibit the deacetylase activity of SIRT 1. In a further embodiment, the present invention provides methods for treatment of patients suffering various metabolic diseases, such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, premature aging syndromes and aging. Also provided are methods of using SIRTl -inhibiting compounds for the treatment of human cancers, including prostate cancer, acute myeloid leukemia, colon cancer and various non-melanoma skin cancers.

The present inventors have discovered that the nuclear lamin A protein interacts with the longevity-promoting/anti-aging SIRTl protein. In one embodiment, the present invention provides methods of screening SIRTl activators or inhibitors. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods of increasing or inhibiting SIRTl activity to treat human metabolic and degenerative diseases as well as neoplasia.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a method of using small carboxyl terminal peptides of lamin A protein to enhance SIRTl protein activity. Synthesized peptides ranging from 3 mer to 20 mer located in the G567-Y646 region of mature lamin A protein are determined for their ability to enhance SIRTl deacetylase activity towards both a fluorophore-conjugated synthetic peptide (Ac-Arg-His-Lys- Lys ^Ac -AMC) and a full-length acetylated FLAG-p53 protein (a known target of SIRTl protein) in vitro. In a further embodiment, the effects of synthesized 3 mers to 20 mers peptides of SIRTl are tested in cells using the acetylation status of SIRTl direct deacetylating targets, such as p53 and PGC-Ια, as readout. In a still further embodiment, covalently modified aforementioned 3 mer to 20 mer lamin A peptides are tested in the ability to enhance SIRTl deacetylase activity by aforementioned in vitro and in vivo assays.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of screening compounds that mimic the structure of aforementioned 3 mer to 20 mer lamin A peptides, wherein enhanced deacetylase activity of SIRTl is determined by a fluorophore-conjugated synthetic peptide (Ac-Arg-His-Lys- Lys ^Ac -AMC) and a full-length acetylated FLAG-p53 protein in the test tube. In a further embodiment, the effects of lamin A-peptide-mimics on SIRTl are tested in cells using the acetylation status of SIRTl direct deacetylating targets, such as p53 and PGC-1 a, as readout.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method of identifying compounds capable of enhancing SIRT 1 deacetylase activity via increasing the interaction between lamin A and SIRTl proteins. SIRTl deacetylase towards both a fluorophore-conjugated synthetic peptide (Ac-Arg-His-Lys- Lys ^Ac -AMC) and a full-length acetylated FLAG-p53 protein is determined in the presence of lamin A protein and tested compound. The ability of tested compounds to enhance the interaction between lamin A and SIRTl in the test tube containing recombinant lamin A and recombinant SIRTl and in cells can be determined by co-immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, and GST-pull down assays. The ability of tested compounds to activate SIRTl can be tested in cells by examining the level of acetylated p53 and acetylated PGC-la.

In one embodiment, this invention provides a method of using aforementioned SIRTl -activating formula, including small lamin A peptides, pepti de-mimics and lamin A-SIRT1 interaction enhancing compounds, to treat human metabolic and aging-related degenerative diseases. In one embodiment, the candidate compounds/peptides can be tested in animal (such as mouse) models recapitulating metabolic and aging-related degenerative diseases, such as mice fed with high-fat diet, mouse models resembling Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), db/db diabetic mice, etc.

In another embodiment, this invention provides a method of using SIRT 1 -inhibiting compounds, including small lamin A peptides, peptide-mimics, and lamin A-SIRT1 interaction inhibiting compounds, to treat human malignancies. In addition, the present invention provides methods for treating metabolic diseases, including obesity, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, premature aging syndromes, and aging, via the administration of SIRTl -activating compounds.

Lamin A directly interacts with SIRTl , and the last 80 amino acids on the carboxyl domain of lamin A serves as an activator of SIRTl . In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for increasing SIRTl deacetylase activity, wherein the method comprises administering to a cell that expresses SIRTl and is in need of increased SIRTl deacetylase activity a lamin A peptide, an analog of the lamin A peptide, or functional fragment thereof. Amino acid sequences of various species of the Lamin A protein are publicly known, and can be readily obtained by a person skilled in the art, such as via the GenBank database. In one embodiment, the lamin A peptide useful according to the present invention is of human origin, having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2; GenBank Accession No. NP_733821.

In one embodiment, the functional fragment of the lamin A peptide that increases SIRTl deacetylase activity comprises the carboxyl domain of the lamin A peptide. In one embodiment, the functional fragment of the lamin A peptide that increases SIRT 1 deacetylase activity comprises amino acids 570-664 of SEQ ID NO:2.

Inhibition of SIRT 1 Deacetylase Activity

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for decreasing or inhibiting SIRT 1 deacetylase activity, wherein the method comprises administering to a cell that expresses SIRTl , and is in need of decreased SIRTl deacetylase activity, an inhibitor of the lamin A protein or peptide.

Lamin A inhibitors useful according to the present invention include, but are not limited to, agents that inhibit lamin A activity; and agents that reduce or inhibit the expression of lamin A, such as agents that inhibit the transcription, translation, and/or processing of lamin A.

Agents that inhibit lamin A activity include, but are not limited to, anti- lamin A antibodies, aptamers, lamin A binding partners, and small molecule inhibitors of lamin A.

In one embodiment, the lamin A inhibitor is an antibody, aptamer, or binding partner that binds to lamin A. In a specific embodiment, the lamin A inhibitor is an antibody, aptamer, or binding partner that binds specifically to lamin A. In a further specific embodiment, the lamin A inhibitor is an antibody, aptamer, or binding partner that binds specifically to human lamin A. In a further specific embodiment, the lamin A inhibitor is an antibody, aptamer, or binding partner that binds specifically to a human lamin A of SEQ ID NO:2. In certain embodiments, the lamin A inhibitor is an antibody, aptamer, or binding partner that binds specifically to a lamin A protein of non-human animal species including, but not limited to, apes, chimpanzees, orangutans, monkeys, dogs, cats, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, mice, rats, and guinea pigs. Antibodies that bind specifically to lamin A proteins are commercially available. The skilled artisan can readily make antibodies, aptamers, or binding partners that specifically bind to lamin A proteins that are publically known. In another embodiment, the lamin A inhibitor is a fusion construct comprising the antibody, aptamer, or binding partner that binds specifically to a lamin A protein (such as human lamin A).

"Specific binding" or "specificity" refers to the ability of a protein to detectably bind an epitope presented on a protein or polypeptide molecule of interest, while having relatively little detectable reactivity with other proteins or structures. Specificity can be relatively determined by binding or competitive binding assays, using, e.g., Biacore instruments. Specificity can be exhibited by, e.g. , an about 10: 1 , about 20: 1 , about 50: 1 , about 100: 1 , 10.000: 1 or greater ratio of affinity/avidity in binding to the specific target molecule versus nonspecific binding to other irrelevant molecules.

Anti-lamin A antibodies of the present invention can be in any of a variety of forms, including intact immunoglobulin molecules, fragments of immunoglobulin molecules such as Fv, Fab and similar fragments; multimers of immunoglobulin molecules (e.g., diabodies, triabodies, and bi-specific and tri-specific antibodies, as are known in the art; see, e.g., Hudson and Kortt, J. Immunol. Methods 231 : 177 189, 1999); fusion constructs containing an antibody or antibody fragment; and human or humanized immunoglobulin molecules or fragments thereof.

Antibodies within the scope of the invention can be of any isotype, including IgG, IgA, IgE, IgD, and IgM. IgG isotype antibodies can be further subdivided into IgGl, IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 subtypes. IgA antibodies can be further subdivided into IgAl and IgA2 subtypes.

Antibodies of the present invention include polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies. The term "monoclonal antibody," as used herein, refers to an antibody or antibody fragment obtained from a substantially homogeneous population of antibodies or antibody fragments (i.e. the individual antibodies within the population are identical except for possible naturally occurring mutations that may be present in a small subset of the antibody molecules).

A monoclonal antibody composition is typically composed of antibodies produced by clones of a single cell called a hybridoma that secretes (produces) only one type of antibody molecule. The hybridoma cell is formed by fusing an antibody-producing cell and a myeloma or other self-perpetuating cell line. Such antibodies were first described by Kohler and Milstein, Nature, 1975, 256:495-497, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. An exemplary hybridoma technology is described by Niman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 1983, 80:4949-4953. Other methods of producing monoclonal antibodies, a hybridoma cell, or a hybridoma cell culture are also well known. See e.g., Antibodies: A Laboratory Manual, Harlow et al., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1988; or the method of isolating monoclonal antibodies from an immunological repertoise as described by Sasatry, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1989, 86:5728-5732; and Huse et al., Science, 1981, 246: 1275-1281. The references cited are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

In some embodiments, lamin A inhibitors useful according to the present invention are agents that reduce or inhibit the expression of lamin A, such as agents that inhibit the transcription, translation, and/or processing of lamin A.

In an embodiment, the lamin A inhibitor is a lamin A antisense polynucleotide. In an embodiment, the lamin A inhibitor is an antisense polynucleotide that targets human lamin A mRNA. In some embodiments, the lamin A antisense polynucleotides target lamin A mRNAs of non-human animals including, but not limited to, apes, chimpanzees, orangutans, monkeys, dogs, cats, horses, pigs, sheep, goats, chickens, mice, rats, and guinea pigs. The skilled artisan would readily appreciate that the antisense polynucleotides can be designed to target any lamin A mRNAs publically known. In some embodiments, the lamin A inhibitor is a siRNA having a sequence sufficiently complementary to a target lamin A mRNA sequence to direct target-specific RNA interference (RNAi). In some embodiments, the lamin A inhibitor is siRNA having a sequence sufficiently complementary to a target human lamin A mRNA sequence to direct target-specific RNA interference.

Examples of antisense polynucleotides include, but are not limited to, single-stranded DNAs and RNAs that bind to complementary target lamin A mRNA and inhibit translation and/or induce RNaseH-mediated degradation of the target transcript; siRNA oligonucleotides that target or mediate lamin A mRNA degradation; ribozymes that cleave lamin A mRNA transcripts; and nucleic acid aptamers and decoys, which are non-naturally occurring oligonucleotides that bind to and block lamin A protein targets in a manner analogous to small molecule drugs.

The term "nucleotide" refers to a nucleoside having one or more phosphate groups joined in ester linkages to the sugar moiety. Exemplary nucleotides include nucleoside monophosphates, diphosphates and triphosphates. The terms "polynucleotide" and "nucleic acid molecule" are used interchangeably herein and refer to a polymer of nucleotides joined together by a phosphodiester linkage between 5' and 3' carbon atoms. The terms "nucleic acid" or "nucleic acid sequence" encompass an oligonucleotide, nucleotide, polynucleotide, or a fragment of any of these, DNA or RNA of genomic or synthetic origin, which may be single-stranded or double-stranded and may represent a sense or antisense strand, peptide nucleic acid (PNA), or any DNA-like or RNA-like material, natural or synthetic in origin. As will be understood by those of skill in the art, when the nucleic acid is RNA, the deoxynucleotides A, G, C, and T are replaced by ribonucleotides A, G, C, and U, respectively.

As used herein, the term "RNA" or "RNA molecule" or "ribonucleic acid molecule" refers generally to a polymer of ribonucleotides. The term "DNA" or "DNA molecule" or deoxyribonucleic acid molecule" refers generally to a polymer of deoxyribonucleotides. DNA and RNA molecules can be synthesized naturally (e.g., by DNA replication or transcription of DNA, respectively). RNA molecules can be post-transcriptionally modified. DNA and RNA molecules can also be chemically synthesized. DNA and RNA molecules can be single-stranded (i.e., ssRNA and ssDNA, respectively) or multi-stranded (e.g. , double stranded, i.e., dsRNA and dsDNA, respectively). Based on the nature of the invention, however, the term "RNA" or "RNA molecule" or "ribonucleic acid molecule" can also refer to a polymer comprising primarily (i.e., greater than 80% or, preferably greater than 90%) ribonucleotides but optionally including at least one non-ribonucleotide molecule, for example, at least one deoxyribonucleotide and/or at least one nucleotide analog.

As used herein, the term "nucleotide analog", also referred to herein as an "altered nucleotide" or "modified nucleotide" refers to a non-standard nucleotide, including non-naturally occurring ribonucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides. Preferred nucleotide analogs are modified at any position so as to alter certain chemical properties of the nucleotide yet retain the ability of the nucleotide analog to perform its intended function.

As used herein, the term "RNA interference" ("RNAi") refers to a selective intracellular degradation of RNA. RNAi occurs in cells naturally to remove foreign RNAs (e.g., viral RNAs). Natural RNAi proceeds via fragments cleaved from free dsRNA which direct the degradative mechanism to other similar RNA sequences. Alternatively, RNAi can be initiated by the hand of man, for example, to silence the expression of endogenous target genes, such as lamin A.

As used herein, the term "small interfering RNA" ("siRNA") (also referred to in the art as "short interfering RNAs") refers to an RNA (or RNA analog) comprising between about 10-50 nucleotides (or nucleotide analogs) which is capable of directing or mediating RNA interference.

As used herein, a siRNA having a "sequence sufficiently complementary to a target mRNA sequence to direct target-specific RNA interference (RNAi)" means that the siRNA has a sequence sufficient to trigger the destruction of the target mRNA (e.g., lamin A mRNA) by the R Ai machinery or process. "mRNA" or "messenger RNA" or "transcript" is single-stranded R A that specifies the amino acid sequence of one or more polypeptides. This information is translated during protein synthesis when ribosomes bind to the mRNA.

The present invention also contemplates vectors (e.g., viral vectors) and expression constructs comprising the nucleic acid molecules useful for inhibiting lamin A expression and/or activity. In an embodiment, the vector comprises a siRNA that targets lamin A mRNA. In another embodiment, the vector comprises a nucleic acid molecule encoding an anti-lamin A antibody.

As used herein, the term "expression construct" refers to a combination of nucleic acid sequences that provides for transcription of an operably linked nucleic acid sequence. As used herein, the term "operably linked" refers to a juxtaposition of the components described, wherein the components are in a relationship that permits them to function in their intended manner. In general, operably linked components are in contiguous relation.

Expression constructs of the invention will also generally include regulatory elements that are functional in the intended host cell in which the expression construct is to be expressed. Thus, a person of ordinary skill in the art can select regulatory elements for use in, for example, bacterial host cells, yeast host cells, mammalian host cells, and human host cells. Regulatory elements include promoters, transcription termination sequences, translation termination sequences, enhancers, and polyadenylation elements.

An expression construct of the invention can comprise a promoter sequence operably linked to a polynucleotide sequence encoding a peptide of the invention. Promoters can be incorporated into a polynucleotide using standard techniques known in the art. Multiple copies of promoters or multiple promoters can be used in an expression construct of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, a promoter can be positioned about the same distance from the transcription start site as it is from the transcription start site in its natural genetic environment. Some variation in this distance is permitted without substantial decrease in promoter activity. A transcription start site is typically included in the expression construct.

Drug Screening Assays

In one embodiment, the present invention pertains to methods for screening for therapeutic agents that increase or decrease SIRTl deacetylase activity. The therapeutic agent can be a drug, chemical, compound, protein or peptide, or a nucleic acid molecule (e.g. DNA, R A such as siR A).

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for screening for agents that increase SIRTl deacetylase activity, including contacting a candidate molecule with cells expressing SIRTl in a test sample; determining deacetylase activity in the test sample; and selecting the candidate molecule as the agent that increases SIRTl deacetylase activity if said molecule increases the level of SIRTl deacetylase activity in the test sample.

In one embodiment of a screening assay for agents that increase SIRTl deacetylase activity, the candidate molecule is selected from a fragment of lamin A peptide (such as a fragment of lamin A peptide of SEQ ID NO:2); an analog of compound mimicking lamin A activity, such as a peptidomimetic; or a compound enhancing lamin A-SIRT1 interaction.

Functional fragments of lamin A peptide can be of 5-600 amino acids in length, or of any length therebetween, including, but not limited to, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60 , 70, 80, 90, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, 450, 500, 550, and 600 amino acids in length.

In another embodiment, the screening assay for agents that increase SIRTl deacetylase activity further includes determining binding of the candidate molecule to SIRT 1 , and selecting the candidate molecule if said molecule binds to SIRTl or enhances the binding of lamin A (or a functional fragment thereof) to SIRTl .

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for screening for agents that decrease or inhibit SIRTl deacetylase activity, including contacting a candidate molecule with cells expressing SIRTl in a test sample; determining deacetylase activity in the test sample; and selecting the candidate molecule as the agent that decreases or inhibits SIRTl deacetylase activity if said molecule decreases or inhibits the level of SIRTl deacetylase activity in the test sample.

In one embodiment of a screening assay for agents that decrease or inhibit SIRTl deacetylase activity, the candidate molecule is selected from agents that inhibit lamin A activity; and agents that reduce or inhibit the expression of lamin A, such as agents that inhibit the transcription, translation, and/or processing of lamin A.

In one embodiment, the screening assay for agents that decrease or inhibit SIRTl deacetylase activity further includes determining binding of the candidate molecule to SIRTl , and selecting the candidate molecule if said molecule inhibits the binding of lamin A to SIRTl .

In certain embodiments, the screening assays examine the in vitro activity of SIRTl in deacetylating proteins selected from KU70, Nbsl, p53, NF-κΒ, PPARy, PGC-la, FOXO, and SUV39H1. In certain embodiments, the screening assays examine the in vitro activity of SIRTl in deacetylating proteins selected from Ac-Arg-His-Lys- Lys ^Ac -AMC (SEQ ID NO: l) or a full-length acetylated FLAG-p53 protein.

The deacetylation activity can be determined by methods including, but not limited to, co-immunoprecipitation, Western blotting, ELISA, immunofluorescence, radioimmunoassay, immunocytochemistry, and a combination thereof.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides methods including determining SIRTl activating peptide or mimics on the kinetics ( _max and of SIRTl recombinant protein; determining the structure of SIRTl in the presence or absence of peptide activator; and determining the biological effects of the peptide activator(s) on cultured human cells and premature aging mouse models. Treatment of Diseases

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating a disease or condition in which increased SIRT 1 deacetylase activity is beneficial, including administering to a patient or subject in need of such treatment an effective amount of lamin A peptide, an analog of lamin A that increases SIRTl deacetylase activity or a functional fragment thereof.

In various embodiments, diseases or conditions in which increased SIRTl deacetylase activity would be beneficial and which can be treated in accordance with the present invention include, but are not limited to, metabolic diseases, such as obesity, diabetes; neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's Diseases; and aging-related diseases.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a method for treating a disease or condition in which decreased SIRTl deacetylase activity is beneficial, including administering to a patient or subject in need of such treatment, an effective amount of inhibitors of the lamin A peptide. In one embodiment, diseases or conditions in which decreased SIRTl deacetylase activity would be beneficial include, but are not limited to, neoplasia.

The term "subject" or "patient," as used herein, describes an organism, including mammals such as primates, to which treatment with the compositions according to the present invention can be provided. Mammalian species that can benefit from the disclosed methods of treatment include, but are not limited to, apes, chimpanzees, orangutans, humans, monkeys; domesticated animals such as dogs, and cats; livestock such as horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and chickens; and other animals such as mice, rats, guinea pigs, and hamsters.

The term "treatment" or any grammatical variation thereof (e.g., treat, treating, and treatment etc.), as used herein, includes but is not limited to, alleviating a symptom of a disease or condition; and/or reducing, suppressing, inhibiting, lessening, or affecting the progression, severity, and/or scope of a disease or condition. The term "effective amount," as used herein, refers to an amount that is capable of treating, preventing, or ameliorating a disease or condition or otherwise capable of producing an intended therapeutic effect.

Therapeutic Compositions and Formulations

The present invention also provides for therapeutic or pharmaceutical compositions including a compound of the invention in a form that can be combined with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In this context, the compound may be, for example, isolated or substantially pure.

The term "carrier" refers to a diluent, adjuvant, excipient, or vehicle with which the compound is administered. Such pharmaceutical carriers can be sterile liquids, such as water and oils, including those of petroleum oil such as mineral oil, vegetable oil such as peanut oil, soybean oil, and sesame oil, animal oil, or oil of synthetic origin. Saline solutions and aqueous dextrose and glycerol solutions can also be employed as liquid carriers, particularly for injectable solutions. Particularly preferred pharmaceutical carriers for treatment of or amelioration of inflammation in the central nervous system are carriers that can penetrate the blood/brain barrier. As used herein carriers do not include the natural plant material as it exists in nature.

Suitable pharmaceutical excipients include starch, glucose, lactose, sucrose, gelatin, malt, rice, flour, chalk, silica gel, sodium stearate, glycerol monostearate, talc, sodium chloride, dried skim milk, glycerol, propylene, glycol, water, ethanol and the like. The therapeutic composition, if desired, can also contain minor amounts of wetting or emulsifying agents, or pH buffering agents. These compositions can take the form of solutions, suspensions, emulsion, tablets, capsules, powders, sustained-release formulations and the like. The composition can be formulated with traditional binders and carriers such as triglycerides. Examples of suitable pharmaceutical carriers are described in "Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences" by E. W. Martin. Such compositions contain a therapeutically effective amount of the therapeutic composition, together with a suitable amount of carrier so as to provide the form for proper administration to the patient. The formulation should suit the mode of administration.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions adapted for local injection administration to human beings. Typically, compositions for local injection administration are solutions in sterile isotonic aqueous buffer. Where necessary, the composition may also include a solubilizing agent and a local anesthetic such as lidocaine to ease pain at the site of the injection. Generally, the ingredients are supplied either separately or mixed together in unit dosage form, for example, as a dry lyophilized powder or water free concentrate in a hermetically sealed container such as an ampoule or sachette indicating the quantity of active agent. Where the composition is administered by injection, an ampoule of sterile water for injection or saline can be provided so that the ingredients may be mixed prior to administration.

The therapeutic or pharmaceutical compositions of the invention can be formulated as neutral or salt forms. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts include those formed with free amino groups such as those derived from hydrochloric, phosphoric, acetic, oxalic, tartaric acids, etc., and those formed with free carboxyl groups such as those derived from sodium, potassium, ammonium, calcium, ferric hydroxides, isopropylamine, triethylamine, 2-ethylamino ethanol, histidine, procaine, etc.

The invention also provides a pharmaceutical pack or kit comprising one or more containers filled with one or more of the ingredients, e.g., compound, carrier, of the pharmaceutical compositions of the invention.

Routes of Administration

The compounds and compositions of the subject invention can be administered to the subject being treated by standard routes, including oral, inhalation, or parenteral administration including intravenous, subcutaneous, topical, transdermal, intradermal, transmucosal, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, intracapsular, intraorbital, intracardiac, transtracheal, subcutaneous, subcuticular, intraarticular, subcapsular, subarachnoid, intraspinal, epidural and intrasternal injection, infusion, and electroporation, as well as co-administration as a component of any medical device or object to be inserted (temporarily or permanently) into a subject.

The amount of the therapeutic or pharmaceutical composition of the invention which is effective in the treatment of a particular disease, condition or disorder will depend on the route of administration, and the seriousness of the disease, condition or disorder, and should be decided according to the judgment of the practitioner and each patient's circumstances. In general, the dosage ranges from about 0.001 mg/kg to about 3 g/kg. For instance, suitable unit dosages may be between about 0.01 to about 3 g, about 0.01 to about 1 g, about 0.01 to about 500 mg, about 0.01 to about 400 mg, about 0.01 to about 300 mg, about 0.01 to about 200 mg, about 0.01 to about 100 mg, about 0.01 to about 50 mg, about 0.01 to about 30 mg, about 0.01 to about 20 mg, about 0.01 to about 10 mg, about 0.01 to about 5 mg, about 0.01 to about 3 mg about, 0.01 to about 1 mg, or about 0.01 to about 0.5 mg. Such a unit dose may be administered more than once a day, e.g. two or three times a day.

The amount of active ingredient that may be combined with the carrier materials to produce a single dosage form will vary, depending on the type of the condition and the subject to be treated. In general, a therapeutic composition contains from about 5% to about 95% active ingredient (w/w). More specifically, a therapeutic composition contains from about 20% (w/w) to about 80% or about 30% to about 70% active ingredient (w/w).

Once improvement of the patient's condition has occurred, a maintenance dose is administered if necessary. Subsequently, the dosage or the frequency of administration, or both, may be reduced as a function of the symptoms to a level at which the improved condition is retained. When the symptoms have been alleviated to the desired level, treatment should cease. Patients may however require intermittent treatment on a long-term basis upon any recurrence of disease symptoms. In addition, in vitro assays may optionally be employed to help identify optimal dosage ranges. The precise dose to be employed in the formulation will also depend on the route of administration, and the seriousness of the disease, condition or disorder, and should be decided according to the judgment of the practitioner and each patient's circumstances. Effective doses may be extrapolated from dose-response curves derived from in vitro or animal model test systems.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell lines, constructs and antibodies

HEK293 cells, MEFs, and human dermal fibroblasts were maintained in DMEM supplemented with 10% FBS. HGADFN143, HGADFN188, HGADFN164, and HGADFN122 skin fibroblasts derived from HGPS patients were provided by Progeria Research Foundation. Human healthy dermal fibroblasts PH and cells harboring LMNA mutations, i.e. R453W, R482W and R401C, were provided by Professor Manfred Wehnert (Institute of Human Genetics, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany). SIRT1 null MEFs were provided by Professor Chu-Xia Deng (NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, USA). F2-S human fibroblasts and preparation of MEFs from mouse embryos were described elsewhere (Liu et al., 2005).

Transfection was performed with Lipofectamine2000 ^® (Invitrogen, USA) according to the manufacture's procedures. SIRT1 siRNA oligos were purchased from Invitrogen, USA. Lamin A and unprocessible prelamin A constructs have been described previously (Liu et al., 2005). The progerin construct was generated by bacterial recombineering based on the lamin A construct. Flag-FOX03A (Addgene plasmid 8360) was obtained from Dr M. E Greenberg (Brunei et al., 2004). Adenoviral SIRT1 construct (Addgene plasmid 8438) (Rodgers et al., 2005) was provided by Dr P Puigserver. EGFP-SIRT1 construct (Sun et al., 2007) was provided by Prof Qiwei Zhai (Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, China). Flag-tagged SIRTl mutants, Flag-p53, and p300 constructs were gifts from Dr. Zhenkun Lou (Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, USA).

Rabbit anti-SIRT6, anti-SIRTl, anti-CBP, and anti-acetyl lysine antibodies were obtained from Abeam (Cambridge, UK). Rabbit anti-H3K9ac and mouse anti-y-H2AX antibodies were purchased from Millipore (Bedford, MA, USA). Anti-SIRTl, anti-lamin A C, anti-catalase, anti-MnSOD, and anti-Gadd45a antibodies were purchased from Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA, USA). Rabbit anti-Foxo3a was purchased from BioVision (Mountain View, CA, USA). Biotin-labeled lineage markers were purchased from BD Biosciences (San Jose, CA, USA). PE anti-mouse CD 105 antibody was purchased from eBioscience (San Diego, CA, USA).

Resveratrol treatment of Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice

Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice have been described previously (Pendas et al., 2002). Mouse experimentation was performed in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on the Use of Live Animals in Teaching and Research (CULATR) at the University of Hong Kong. New-born Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice and wild-type controls were fed with resveratrol (20 μg/ml) or N-acetyl Cysteine (1 mg/ml) in drinking water. The survival of resveratrol-treated, NAC -treated, or vehicle -treated Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice was recorded and their body weight was monitored weekly. The trabecular bone organization and bone mineral density were determined by micro-CT. The survival rate was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method and statistical comparison was performed by Log-rank (Mantel-Cox) Test.

Bone marrow stromal cells and hematopoietic stem cells

Bone marrow stromal cells were isolated and cultured according to modified protocol (Enumeration and Expansion of Mouse Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells Using MesenCuilt ^® , Stemcell Technologies, Canada). Briefly, bone marrow cells were flushed out from femurs and tibias with a-MEM (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) supplemented with 20% FBS, and plated in petri dishes. Non-adherent cells were removed on day 3 and medium was replaced every 3 days. BMSC colonies were fixed with methanol and stained with crystal violet solution on the indicated day. For magnetic enrichment, CD 1 lb-positive population was removed using a MidiMACS™ magnetic cell sorting kit (Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany), following the manufacturer's instructions. Colonies containing more than 50 cells were counted. BMSC colony forming efficiency was calculated as number of colonies formed by 10 ⁷ bone marrow nucleated cells.

To analyze hematopoietic stem cells, mononucleated cells were collected by flushing femurs and tibias with staining medium (HBSS supplemented with 2% FBS) and stained with biotin-coupled lineage markers, Biotin-Flt3, PE-Sca-1 , APC-c-Kit, and then SAv-PerCP. FACS profile analyses were performed using a BD FACSCalibur.

To purify HSCs, red blood cells were lysed using NH ₄ CI before surface-marker staining, and HSCs were then sorted with a BD FACSVantage SE. Sorted HSCs were incubated with 5 μΜ DCF-DA at 37°C for 30 min and analyzed by FACS at 488-nm excitation and 525-nm emission to determine the ROS level.

For hematopoietic reconstitution, recipient mice (B6SJL/BoyJ) were lethally irradiated with a dose of 9 Gy using a Gammacell 3000 Elan irradiator and 500 purified donor HSCs were injected into recipients via the tail vein. After repopulation, peripheral blood was collected, stained for cell surface markers, and analyzed by FACS.

SA-fi-galactosidase assay

SA- -galactosidase assay was performed using a Cellular Senescence Assay Kit (Chemicon International, CA, USA), following the manufacturer's instructions. For MEFs, resveratrol was supplemented in the complete medium at passage 4 and SA- -galactosidase assay was performed at passage 6. To quantify SA- -galactosidase staining, the blue-dyed precipitate was extracted with 100 μΐ DMSO and the absorbance at 415 nm was recorded. Immunofluorescence staining

BMSCs were grown on chamber slides, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde and then blocked in 1% BSA PBS with 5% normal serum overnight at 4°C, and then incubated with primary antibody diluted in 1% BSA/PBS at 4°C overnight in a humid box. The slides were washed 3 times with PBS, incubated with FITC- or TRITC-coupled secondary antibodies diluted in 1% BSA/PBS for 40 min at R.T., washed 3 times with PBS to remove unbound antibodies, mounted with SlowFade ^® Gold antifade reagent with DAPI (Invitrogen, USA), sealed with nail polish and subjected for microscopy analysis. Photos were processed with Photoshop CS ^® .

Protein extraction, fractionation, Western blotting, and co-immunoprecipitation

Whole cell lysate was prepared by suspending the cells in 5 volumes of suspension buffer (0.1 M NaCl, 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, 1 mM EDTA, lmM DTT, pH 8.0, protease inhibitors), and then adding 5 volumes of Laemmli buffer (0.1 M Tris-HCl, pH 7.0, 4% SDS, 20% glycerol, 1 mM DTT, protease inhibitors) and boiling for 5 min.

Cells were fractionated as described (Mendez and Stillman, 2000). Briefly, the cells were suspended in 100 μΐ ice-cold buffer A (10 mM HEPES, pH 7.9, 10 mM KC1, 1.5 mM MgCl ₂ , 0.34 M sucrose, 10% glycerol, 1 mM DTT, protease inhibitors). After the addition of 0.1% Triton X-100, the cell suspension was mixed gently, incubated on ice for 5 min and centrifuged at 1300 x g at 4°C for 4 min. The supernatant (S I) was transferred to a new tube and clarified by high-speed centrifugation (12000 x g, 10 min, 4°C). The remaining nuclei pellet (PI) was washed once with 100 μΐ buffer A and then resuspended in 100 μΐ buffer A supplemented with 1 mM CaCl ₂ and 2 units of micrococcal nuclease, and incubated at 37°C for 15 min. The reaction was stopped by adding 1 mM EGTA and the suspension was then centrifuged at 1300 x g at 4°C for 4 min. The resultant pellet was resuspended in 100 μΐ of buffer B (3 mM EDTA, 0.2 mM EGTA, 1 mM DTT) and centrifuged at 1700 x g at 4°C for 4 min. The supernatant (S2'), containing all the soluble components of the nucleoplasm and chromatin-bound proteins, was transferred to another tube; the remaining pellet (Ρ2'), containing all the nuclear matrix components, was suspended in 100 μΐ Laemmli buffer and boiled for 5 min.

Western blotting was performed as described previously (Liu et al., 2005). Relative band intensity was measured by Image J ^® and normalized to corresponding wild-type or untreated controls as indicated.

For statistical analysis, at least three independent immunoblots were quantified and student T test was used for P values.

For co-immunoprecipitation, cells were lysed into pre-chilled RIPA buffer containing 300 mM or 500 mM NaCl and protease inhibitors. Primary antibodies or appropriate control IgGs were added to the lysate and incubated for 2 h on a rocking platform at 4°C before Agarose beads were added and incubated O/N. The beads were washed twice with RIPA buffer, resuspended into Laemmli buffer and boiled, and protein suspension was collected by centrifugation and stored for further analysis.

In vitro SIRTl deacetylation assay

SIRTl deacetylation assay on fluoropho re-conjugated synthetic p53 peptide was performed with SIRTl Fluorimetric Drug Discovery Kit (Biomol, Hamburg, Germany) according to the manufactory's instruction. Cells were fractionated as described above except that protease inhibitors were NOT included and the nuclear matrix fraction was suspended into the assay buffer provided by the supplier. Different cell fractions or recombinant human lamin A (rhLamin A, Diatheva, Italy) were added in the reaction mix of SIRTl Fluorimetric Drug Discovery Kit, incubated for 20 min at 37°C, and then the reaction was stopped and fluorescent signal was detected. SIRTl deacetylase activity on native target was assayed using SIRTl assay Kit from Sigma (USA). Constructs encoding FLAG-p53 and HA-p300 were co-transfected into HEK293 cells; FLAG-p53 was immunoprecipitated by anti-FLAG M2 Agarose (Sigma) followed by elution with FLAG peptide (Sigma). Purified acetyl FLAG-p53 was incubated with recombinant human SIRTl (rhSIRTl) and NAD+ for 30 min at 37°C, in the presence or absence of rhLamin A or resveratrol. The acetylation level of FLAG-p53 was determined by Western blotting with pan anti acetyl lysine antibodies.

EXAMPLES

Following are examples that illustrate embodiments and procedures for practicing the invention. The examples should not be construed as limiting. All percentages are by weight and all solvent mixture proportions are by volume unless otherwise noted.

EXAMPLE 1 - SIRTl INTERACTS WITH LAMIN A WHILE PRELAMIN A OR PROGERIN JEOPARDIZES THE INTERACTION

To determine the potential involvement of SIRTl in progeria, the potential interaction between lamin A and SIRTl is examined by co-immunoprecipitation in HEK293 cells expressing ectopic FLAG-tagged SIRTl .

Lamin A was pulled down in the anti-FLAG immunoprecipitates, while FLAG-SIRT1 was detected in the anti-lamin A C immunoprecipitates (Figure 1A). The interaction between endogenous SIRTl and lamin A C was confirmed in HEK293 cells, bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs), and mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), where anti-SIRTl immunoprecipitates pulled down lamin A and vice versa (Figures IB, 6A, 6B).

Immunofluorescence confocal microscopy showed that much of nuclear SIRTl co-localized with nucleoplasmic lamin A/C in the nuclear interior in human fibroblasts (Figure 1C). Consistently, ectopic EGFP-SIRT1 and DsRed-lamin A co-existed in the nuclear interior (Figure ID). This interaction seems specific to nuclear SIRTl as neither cytoplasmic SIRTl nor mitochondrial SIRT5 was detected in the anti GFP-lamin A immunoprecipitates (Figure 6C). In addition, SIRTl physically interacts with lamin A as recombinant human SIRTl (rhSIRTl) was pulled down by recombinant human lamin A (rhLamin A) in a test tube (Figure IE). Alternative splicing of LMNA gives rise to different A-type lamins, of which lamin A and C are the most abundant (Lin and Worman, 1993). Lamin A and C share the first 566 amino acids; lamin A has a specific 98-amino-acid carboxyl tail, and lamin C has a unique 6-arnino-acid carboxyl tail (Liu and Zhou, 2008).

Although the level of lamin C was much higher than A in HEK293 cells, lamin C was hardly detected in the anti-SIRTl immunoprecipitates (Figure IB), indicating that lamin A likely interacts with SIRT1 via its C-terminal domain. This was further confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation in HEK293 cells expressing FLAG-SIRTl together with either lamin A or lamin C. As shown in Figure IF, lamin A was detected in the anti-FLAG-SIRTl immunoprecipitates, whereas lamin C was negligible.

It is widely accepted that the unprocessed C-terminal tail in progerin or prelamin A is responsible for the progeroid features in HGPS and progeria mouse models. Given that lamin A interacts with SIRT1 via its C-terminal domain, this Example examines whether the interaction between SIRT1 and prelamin A or progerin is reduced compared to lamin A. Co-immunoprecipitation was performed in HEK293 cells expressing FLAG-SIRTl together with one of the A-type lamins, i.e., wild-type lamin A, prelamin A or progerin.

As shown in Figures 1G, 1H, significantly less prelamin A and progerin were pulled down by anti-FLAG antibodies compared with lamin A, though comparable or higher levels of FLAG-SIRTl and prelamin A progerin were present in the input. The results indicate that SIRT1 preferentially interacts with lamin A whereas prelamin A or progerin has significantly reduced association with SIRT1.

EXAMPLE 2 - SIRT1 IS MISLOCALIZED IN PROGERIA CELLS

Lamin A is one of the major components of NM. This Example investigates the association of SIRT1 with the NM by subcellular fractionation. SIRTl ^ cells were utilized as a negative control for the specific staining of SIRT1 protein. KAP-1 (KRAB-associated protein 1 , also known as Trim28 or Tif 1 β) and MCM3 proteins served as positive controls for the purity of the subcellular fractionation.

KAP-1 is a heterochro matin factor and was reported to be associated with the majority of the micrococcal nuclease-resistant fraction in the nucleus (Goodarzi et al., 2008; Ryan et al., 1999). MCM3 protein is important in preventing excessive DNA replication during S phase and is predominantly associated with chromatin (Mendez and Stillman, 2000).

As expected, Kap-1 was resistant to MNase digestion and remained in the NM fraction (Ρ2') whereas the majority of Mcm3 was released into the nucleoplasmic and chromatic fraction (S2') after MNase treatment (Figure 7A). Consistent with its interaction with lamin A, SIRT1 protein was enriched in the NM fraction (Ρ2') in MEFs (Figure 7B).

Since pre lamin A has less binding capacity to SIRT1 compared with lamin A and SIRT1 is highly expressed in stem cells (Saunders et al., 2010), this Example also examines SIRT1 localization in Zmpste24 ^~/~ cells by subcellular fractionation in multipotent BMSCs.

NM-associated SIRT1 was largely reduced in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ BMSCs compared to wild type controls, though total nuclear proportion of SIRT1 was comparable (Figures 2A, 2B). The reduction in NM-associated SIRT1 appears specific, because Sirt6, CBP acetyltransferase and Foxo3a were not significantly affected in Zmpste24 ^~/~ cells.

The NM-associated SIRT1 was also reduced in HGPS dermal fibroblasts, including HGADFN143, HGADFN188, HGADFN164 and HGADFN122, compared to either healthy F2-S fibroblasts or dermal fibroblasts harboring non-progeria LMNA mutations, i.e., R453W in Emery Dreifuss Muscular Dystrophy (EDMD), R482W in Familial Lipodystrophy (FLPD) and R401C in EDMD (Liu and Zhou, 2008) (Figures 7C, 7D).

Though total nuclear level of SIRT1 was variable in different HGPS cell lines, the percentage of NM-associated SIRT1 was consistently reduced. Moreover, ectopic expression of prelamin A and progerin caused remarkable disassociation of SIRT1 from the NM, while the nuclear level of SIRT1 was hardly affected in HEK293 cells (Figures 2C, 2D). The results indicate that prelamin A or progerin compromises the proper NM localization of SIRT1.

To further assess the functional significance of mislocalization of SIRT1, this Example examines SIRT1 downstream pathway(s) in progeria cells. SIRT1 deacetylates Foxo3a and upregulates its transcriptional activity, thus promoting expression of antioxidant enzymes such as MnSOD and catalase in response to oxidative stress (Brunei et al., 2004).

Consistent with the mislocalization of SIRT1, Foxo3a was hyper-acetylated in Zmpste24 ^~/~ BMSCs and the level of catalase and Gadd45a was reduced by approximately 40% in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice relative to wild-type controls (Figures 2E-F). The increase in Foxo3a acetylation is likely the result of decreased SIRT1 deacetylase activity in vivo, as neither total nuclear SIRT1 level nor NM association of CBP, the acetyltransferase for Foxo3a, was changed in Zmpste24 ^~/~ BMSCs (Figures 2A-B). Ectopic expression of either prelamin A or progerin increased the acetylation of FOX03A, and reduced the expression of catalase, MnSOD and GADD45a in HEK293 cells (Figure 2G).

EXAMPLE 3 - RESVERATROL ENHANCES THE BINDING OF SIRT1 TO LAMIN A AND STIMULATES ITS DEACETYLASE ACTIVITY IN A LAMIN A-DEPENDENT MANNER

The NM-localization of SIRT1 and the association of NM with HDAC deacetylase activity (Fey et al., 1991) suggest that NM might contain potential SIRT1 activators. To test this hypothesis, in vitro deacetylase activity of rhSIRTl by a BioMol ^® SIRT1 Fluorimetric Drug Discovery Kit (BSDK) was quantified in the presence or absence of NM derived from wild-type or Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ BMSCs.

Surprisingly, the deacetylase activity of rhSIRTl was enhanced approximately 3-fold in the presence of NM from wild-type BMSCs compared with the control without NM or with cytoplasmic fraction (Figure 7E), suggesting the existence of potential SIRT1 activator(s) on the NM. In contrast, the NM from the Zmpste24 ^~/~ BMSCs showed a significantly reduced stimulatory effect on rhSIRTl deacetylase activity. This Example further investigates whether lamin A acts as an activator of SIRTl . In mammalian cells, lysine acetyltransferase p300 and SIRTl mediate the acetylation and deacetylation of p53 on residue K382 (Gu and Roeder, 1997). BSDK utilizes fluorophore-conjugated acetyl p53 peptide as target (see Materials and Methods). As shown in Figure 3 A, in the presence of rhLamin A, the deacetylase activity of rhSIRTl on acetyl p53 peptide was increased in a dose-dependent manner. Lamin A-stimulated SIRTl deacetylase activity was completely abolished by SIRTl inhibitor Suramin.

To further test the effect of rhLamin A on the native target of SIRTl, acetyl p53 was purified by anti-FLAG immunoprecipitation in HEK293 cells ectopically expressing FLAG-p53 and p300, and SIRTl deacetylation assay was performed as described in Materials and Methods.

As shown in Figures 3B and S2F, around 20% decrease in FLAG-p53 acetylation level was observed in the presence of rhLamin A-rhSIRTl complex compared with rhSIRTl only, suggesting that lamin A serves as an activator of SIRTl .

Resveratrol, which might be a potential SIRTl activator, has been reported to enhance healthspan in a range of age-related diseases. However several independent studies found that resveratrol activates SIRTl towards the fluorophore-conjugated synthetic p53 peptide rather than unconjugated native targets (Borra et al., 2005; Burnett et al., 2011 ; Dai et al., 2010; Kaeberlein et al, 2005; Pacholec et al, 2010).

This Example shows that resveratrol does not directly activate SIRT 1 deacetylase activity using native full-length FLAG-p53 as a substrate (Figure 7F). Surprisingly, in the presence of rhLamin A, resveratrol activated SIRTl in a lamin A dose-dependent manner (Figures 3B, 7F). Further examination revealed that resveratrol enhanced the binding of rhSIRTl to rhLamin A in the test tube (Figure 3C) and the binding of FLAG-SIRT1 to lamin A in HEK293 cells (Figures 3D, 3E) by co-immunoprecipitation.

In addition to acetyl p53, H3K9ac is another substrate of SIRTl deacetylase (Wang et al., 2008). This Example further investigates the effects of resveratrol on H3K9ac in the wild-type, SIRTl ^~/~ or Lmna null cells. As shown in Figure 3F, treatment with resveratrol downregulated the level of H3K9ac in wild-type cells in a dose-dependent manner, while this effect was completely abrogated in SIRTl ^~/~ or Lmn ' ^~ cells. Anti-H3K9ac immunofluorescence staining further confirmed the lamin A-dependent activation of SIRTl by resveratrol (Figure 3G).

As SIRTl interacts with lamin A and thus associates with NM and resveratrol increases the binding between lamin A and SIRTl, this Example also examines whether resveratrol enhances NM association of SIRTl . As shown in Figures 7G-H, in wild-type and Zmpste24 ^~/~ BMSCs incubated with different concentrations of resveratrol, NM-associated SIRTl was increased compared to untreated controls. The ability of resveratrol to stimulate the NM association of SIRTl was also observed in test tube. When equal amounts of rhSIRTl were incubated with the insoluble NM fraction from either wild-type or Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ cells suspended in BSDK assay buffer, significant less NM-bound rhSIRTl was found in precipitates from Zmpste24 ^~/~ NM relative to wild-type NM precipitates in the absence of resveratrol (Figure 3H). Significantly, the presence of resveratrol enhanced the association of rhSIRTl with NM derived from both wild-type and Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ cells. Consistently, rhSIRTl level in the supernatant underwent a compensatory reduction (Figure 3H). Collectively, these data indicate that resveratrol could enhance the interaction between lamin A and SIRTl to increase the NM association of SIRTl and thus activates SIRTl .

EXAMPLE 4 - RESVERATROL TREATMENT RESCUES ASC DECLINE IN ZMPSTE24 MICE

As resveratrol enhances SIRTl deacetylase activity by increasing its binding to lamin A, this Example examines the effects of resveratrol treatment on the early senescence in Zmpste24 ^~/~ MEFs. However, no obvious difference in β-galactosidase activity was observed between resveratrol-treated and saline -treated Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ MEFs (Figure 8A), and resveratrol did not reduce the elevated levels of pl6 ^lnk4a in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ MEFs (Figure 8B). As SIRTl is more highly expressed in stem cells than in somatic differentiated cells and it is critical for maintaining stem cell self-renewal and function (Han et al., 2008; Lee et al., 2011 ; Saunders et al., 2010), we then tested effects of resveratrol on BMSCs.

Progerin and prelamin A have been previously linked to defects in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and in hair follicle progenitor cells in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice (Espada et al., 2008; Scaffidi and Misteli, 2008). Consistently, the number of BMSCs was significantly reduced in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice compared with wild-type controls at 4 months of age (Figures 9A). Zmpste24 ^~/~ BMSCs in culture showed compromised colony-forming capacity (Figure 9B), reduced proliferation (Figure 9C), and a dramatically increased cellular senescence (Figures 9D). Similarly, an early decline in mononucleated cells (M Cs) and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs, Lineage ^" Flt3 ^" Sca-f cKit ^high ) was observed in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice (Figures 9E-G), such that by 4 months of age HSC levels fell to less than half of that of wild-type controls. HSC transplantation experiments showed that the self-renewal defects were cell-intrinsic (Figure 9H). Interestingly, resveratrol enhanced the colony-forming capacity in Zmpste24 ^~/~ BMSCs in a dose-dependent manner (Figures 4A-B). The treatment also increased the binding of SIRTl to prelamin A and the expression of Gadd45a and catalase (Figures 4C-D). Moreover, the rescue effect of resveratrol is SIRTl -dependent, as knocking down SIRTl attenuated its effect on Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ BMSCs (Figures 4D-F). Knocking down SIRTl abolished the stimulating effect of resveratrol on the expression of Gadd45a and catalase (Figure 4D). In addition, knockdown of SIRTl decreased colony- forming capacity (Figures 4E-F) and ectopic SIRTl increased the colony- forming capacity of Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ BMSCs to levels comparable to that of wild-type BMSCs (Figures 4G-I). These data indicate that BMSC decline in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice is attributable to impaired SIRTl function which can be rescued by resveratrol.

EXAMPLE 5 - RESVERATROL ALLEVIATES PROGEROID FEATURES AND EXTENDS LIFESPAN IN ZMPSTE24 ^~/~ MICE As the SIRT1 -dependent rescue of BMSC colony-forming capacity in vitro, this Example examines whether resveratrol could rescue the BMSC defects in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice in vivo.

Briefly, resveratrol was supplemented at a concentration of 20 μg/ml in drinking water. Four months after treatment, BMSCs were collected for examination and comparison between resveratrol-treated and vehicle-treated Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice.

As shown in Figures 5A and 5B, BMSC colony-forming efficiency was significantly increased in the resveratrol-treated group. Concomitantly, resveratrol treatment enhanced the level of catalase whereas it decreased the level of acetyl p53 and H3K9 in BMSCs (Figure 5C). Resveratrol-treatment also rescued the early decline in HSCs (Figure 5C). Moreover resveratrol-treatment ameliorated progeroid features in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice. As shown by micro-CT analyses, the trabeculae in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice appeared to be thinner and more widely spaced. After 4 months of treatment, resveratrol increased the trabecular thickness, improved the structural organization and increased bone mineral density (Figures 5D-E). In addition, resveratrol-treatment also significantly slowed down the body weight loss, compared to vehicle-treated controls (Figures 5F-G). Most importantly, the median survival was extended from 20 weeks in vehicle-treated Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice to 27 weeks in resveratrol-treated Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice (Figure 5H). By 26 weeks after birth, 95% of Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice had died, whereas nearly 60% of resveratrol-treated animals were still alive. The maximum lifespan (mean lifespan of the longest-lived 10% of the animals) was prolonged from 27.5 weeks in vehicle -treated to 33.5 weeks in resveratrol-treated Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice (Figure 51).

Resveratrol rescues SIRT1 -dependent decline in adult stem cell numbers and alleviates progeroid features in laminopathy-based progeria. Mice lacking Zmpste24, a metalloproteinase responsible for prelamin A processing, recapitulate many of the HGPS features, including accelerated cellular senescence and dysfunctional adult stem cells (ASCs). SIRT1 directly interacts with lamin A, and thus, localizes on the nuclear matrix (NM). The association of SIRT1 with lamin A and M enhances its deacetylase activity. Compared with lamin A, prelamin A and progerin have significantly decreased interaction with SIRTl in vivo and reduced activation of SIRTl deacetylase activity, leading to rapid depletion of ASCs in laminopathy-based progeria mice. Resveratrol activates SIRTl via increasing the binding of SIRTl to A-type lamins and enhancing its NM association. Resveratrol treatment rescues ASC decline in a SIRT 1 -dependent manner, slows down body weight loss, improves trabecular bone structure and mineral density, and significantly extends the lifespan of Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. The present invention shows that lamin A is an activator of SIRTl and resveratrol directly activates SIRTl in a lamin A-dependent manner. Further, the association between conserved SIRTl longevity pathway and progeria indicates that the stem cell-based and SIRTl pathway-dependent therapeutic strategies can be useful for treatment of progeria.

SIRTl interacts with lamin A and associates with the NM; lamin A serves as an activator of SIRTl . SIRTl interacts weakly with prelamin A or progerin, and SIRTl abundance and activity in the NM is significantly reduced in progeria cells. Resveratrol directly activates SIRTl through enhancing the binding between SIRTl and A-type lamins and increasing the association of SIRTl with the NM, which in turn rescues the defective BMSCs, ameliorates progeroid phenotypes, and extends the lifespan of Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice.

The present invention shows that lamin A directly interacts with SIRTl and thus enhances deacetylase activity of SIRTl, using either AMC-conjugated synthetic peptide or native full-length acetyl p53. It is postulated that lamin A interacts with SIRTl through its C-terminus, as the interaction between lamin C and SIRTl is minimal. The unprocessed C-terminus in prelamin A or progerin may interfere with their binding with SIRT 1 , and therefore, reduce SIRTl association on NM, leading to jeopardized deacetylase activity in progeria cells. Resveratrol enhances the binding of SIRTl to A-type lamins and thus activates SIRTl deacetylase activity. Although many of the in vivo benefits of resveratrol are SIRTl -dependent (Baur, 2010), emerging evidence indicates that it also activates AMPK independent of SIRTl (Canto et al., 2009; Gledhill et al, 2007; Hawley et al, 2010; Park et al, 2012). It was shown that low doses of resveratrol (< 25 μΜ) activates AMPK in a SIRTl -dependent manner, while high doses (> 50 μΜ) activate AMPK independent of SIRTl (Baur et al, 2006; Price et al, 2012; Sun et al,

2007) . In the present invention, low doses (2-10 μΜ) of resveratrol were used and activation of AMPK was not observed; therefore, it is postulated that the beneficial effects of resveratrol on BMSCs are primarily attributable to the activation of SIRTl . Interestingly, although resveratrol rescues BMSC decline in a SIRTl -dependent manner, ameliorates progeroid phenotypes and extends the lifespan of Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ mice, it does not rescue cellular senescence in Zmpste24 ^~ ' ^~ MEFs, suggesting that resveratrol treatment may affect somatic cells and ASCs differently.

Accordingly, it has been reported that resveratrol inhibits proliferation of somatic cells of different origins and in various cancer cell lines (Sgambato et al., 2001). As the effects of resveratrol are pleiotropic (Harikumar and Aggarwal, 2008) and involve both sirtuin-dependent and independent pathways, it seems plausible that resveratrol could influence sirtuin and non-sirtuin pathways differently in ASCs and somatic cells.

Given the fact that SIRTl expression is much higher in stem cells compared to that in somatic cells (Saunders et al., 2010), the different effects of resveratrol on BMSCs and MEFs may also lie in the difference in level of SIRTl expression. Indeed, the effect of resveratrol on BMSCs is SIRT 1 -dependent and ectopic SIRTl enhances colony- forming capacity in both wild- type and Zmpste24 ^~/~ BMSCs. It is likely that the lifespan extension in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice by resveratrol is attributable, at least in part, to the rescue of SIRTl -dependent ASC decline, e.g. BMSCs and HSCs etc. Since SIRTl affects multiple pathways (Lavu et al, 2008; Smith et al,

2008) , it is not clear which downstream targets of SIRTl influence the maintenance of BMSCs in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. However, Foxo3a-mediated oxidative detoxification would be one potential candidate because directly scavenging ROS level via N-acetyl Cysteine ( AC) rescued the decline in BMSCs and HSCs and extended lifespan to a similar extent as resveratrol did (Figure 10). Although lifespan extension in C. elegans and Drosophila by ectopic Sir2 was recently called into question, SIRTl deficiency in mammals may affect metabolic and transcriptional adaptation essential for life in response to stress (Burnett et al., 2011 ; Chalkiadaki and Guarente, 2012; Houtkooper et al., 2012; Lombard et al., 2011 ; Viswanathan and Guarente, 201 1). In this regard, it should be emphasized that lifespan extension in progeroid mice by resveratrol may be the consequence of elevated SIRTl -dependent physiological and metabolic functions necessary for healthspan that are severely compromised in Zmpste24 ^~/~ mice. Resveratrol prolongs lifespan and delays aging-related phenotypes in a short-lived fish strain (Valenzano et al., 2006).

The present invention shows that (i) resveratrol activates SIRTl via increasing its binding to lamin A; (ii) a perturbed interaction between SIRTl and A-type lamins compromises SIRTl function, leading to impaired ASC population which contributes, at least partially, to some of the phenotypes associated with HGPS; (iii) resveratrol facilitates the interaction between SIRTl and A-types lamins to activate SIRTl , and therefore, rescuing ASC decline, ameliorating progeroid phenotypes and extending lifespan in a mouse model of progeria. The present invention shows that resveratrol directly targets SIRTl . Also, resveratrol and other SIRTl activators can be used in the treatment of HGPS.

All references, including publications, patent applications and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference was individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and was set forth in its entirety herein.

The terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents as used in the context of describing the invention are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context.

Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Unless otherwise stated, all exact values provided herein are representative of corresponding approximate values (e.g., all exact exemplary values provided with respect to a particular factor or measurement can be considered to also provide a corresponding approximate measurement, modified by "about," where appropriate).

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise indicated. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any element is essential to the practice of the invention unless as much is explicitly stated.

The description herein of any aspect or embodiment of the invention using terms such as "comprising", "having", "including" or "containing" with reference to an element or elements is intended to provide support for a similar aspect or embodiment of the invention that "consists of, "consists essentially of, or "substantially comprises" that particular element or elements, unless otherwise stated or clearly contradicted by context (e.g., a composition described herein as comprising a particular element should be understood as also describing a composition consisting of that element, unless otherwise stated or clearly contradicted by context).

It should be understood that the examples and embodiments described herein are for illustrative purposes only and that various modifications or changes in light thereof will be suggested to persons skilled in the art and are to be included within the spirit and purview of this application.

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