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Nicotinamide and PNC1 govern lifespan extension by calorie restriction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Nature volume 423, pages 181–185 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Calorie restriction extends lifespan in a broad range of organisms, from yeasts to mammals. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain this phenomenon, including decreased oxidative damage and altered energy metabolism. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, lifespan extension by calorie restriction requires the NAD+-dependent histone deacetylase, Sir2 (ref. 1). We have recently shown that Sir2 and its closest human homologue SIRT1, a p53 deacetylase, are strongly inhibited by the vitamin B3 precursor nicotinamide2. Here we show that increased expression of PNC1 (pyrazinamidase/nicotinamidase 1), which encodes an enzyme that deaminates nicotinamide, is both necessary and sufficient for lifespan extension by calorie restriction and low-intensity stress. We also identify PNC1 as a longevity gene that is responsive to all stimuli that extend lifespan. We provide evidence that nicotinamide depletion is sufficient to activate Sir2 and that this is the mechanism by which PNC1 regulates longevity. We conclude that yeast lifespan extension by calorie restriction is the consequence of an active cellular response to a low-intensity stress and speculate that nicotinamide might regulate critical cellular processes in higher organisms.

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Figure 1: Calorie restriction and heat stress extend lifespan in a PNC1-dependent manner.
Figure 2: Pnc1 levels and activity are elevated in response to calorie restriction and low-intensity stress.
Figure 3: Pnc1–GFP is localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm, and concentrated in peroxisomes.
Figure 4: Manipulation of nicotinamide metabolism alters silencing and lifespan.

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Acknowledgements

We thank members of the Sinclair laboratory, R. Veech, C. Wolberger, W. Forrester, S. Luikenhuis and D. Finkelstein, for reagents and discussions. This work was supported by the NIA and the Harvard–Armenise Foundation. D.S. is an Ellison Medical Research Foundation Special Fellow. R.A. is supported by a John Taplan Postdoctoral Fellowship, J.W. by a National Science Foundation Scholarship, and K.B. and O.M. by the American Federation of Aging Research.

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  1. Rozalyn M. Anderson, Kevin J. Bitterman and Jason G. Wood: These authors contributed equally to this work

  2. David A. Sinclair: Correspondence and requests for materials should be addressed to D.A.S.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, USA

    Rozalyn M. Anderson, Kevin J. Bitterman, Jason G. Wood, Oliver Medvedik & David A. Sinclair

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Correspondence to David A. Sinclair.

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Anderson, R., Bitterman, K., Wood, J. et al. Nicotinamide and PNC1 govern lifespan extension by calorie restriction in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Nature 423, 181–185 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature01578

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