Overview:

SIRT3 is a member of the class I of the Sirtuin family that is characterized by a Sirtuin core domain. Sirtuin are grouped into four classes and are homologs to the Sir2 protein. SIRT3 is known to regulate the epigenetic gene silencing and suppresses recombination of rDNA (1). SIRT3 may function as an intracellular regulatory protein with mono-ADP-ribosyltransferase activity that is essential for its silencing function. SIRT3 regulates and maintains basal ATP levels in the cell (2). SIRT3 also modulates mitochondrial intermediary metabolism and fatty acid use during fasting (3).

References:

1. Tanny, J. C. et.al: An enzymatic activity in the yeast Sir2 protein that is essential for gene silencing. Cell 99: 735-745, 1999.2. Ahn, B.-H. et.al: A role for the mitochondrial deacetylase Sirt3 in regulating energy homeostasis. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 105: 14447-14452, 2008.3. Hirschey, M. D. et.al: SIRT3 regulates mitochondrial fatty-acid oxidation by reversible enzyme deacetylation. Nature 464: 121-125, 2010.