# Mechanisms of Lifespan Regulation by Sirt6 in Drosophila melanogaster

> **NIH NIH K99** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $114,624

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY:
The major goal of this K99/R00 proposal is to determine mechanisms by which SIRT6 regulates and extends
lifespan. Therapeutic modulation of SIRT6 activity in humans may be an effective way to treat many age-
related diseases and disorders and extend healthy lifespan. The ability of SIRT6 to regulate lifespan in mice has
been demonstrated, and our preliminary data show substantial lifespan extension by overexpressing the SIRT6
Drosophila melanogaster ortholog, dSirt6, in flies, but the extent of this ability and mechanisms by which
SIRT6 operates are poorly understood. This proposal will use Drosophila melanogaster to clarify these issues
through three Specific Aims. Aim 1 will determine which tissues dSirt6 acts through to extend lifespan, and the
relative contributions of dSirt6 deactylase (associated with chromatin silencing) and ADP-ribosylase
(associated with DNA repair) functions towards regulating lifespan. The results from these experiments should
provide better confirmation of the ability of SIRT6 to extend lifespan, and mechanisms by which it operates to
do so. Aim 2 will measure global gene expression changes (RNA-seq) and epigenomic alterations (CUT&RUN
for dSirt6 substrates H3K9ac and H3K56ac) during aging, with and without dSirt6 overexpression. These
results will provide information about the impact of dSirt6 overexpression on chromatin during aging and the
relative impact on gene expression and lifespan, and also general insight into the relationship between aging,
chromatin state, and lifespan. Aim 3 will use both targeted and unbiased screens to identify other genes that
regulate dSirt6 function. The results of these experiments will provide better mechanistic insight into how
dSirt6 extends lifespan, and potentially allow us to extend it even further than with dSirt6 overexpression
alone. In addition, this aim is designed to provide the applicant with a wide array of data and directions to
serve as the basis for future grant proposals. The proposed research complements the training goal of this
proposal: to provide the applicant with advanced skills transgenic fly construction and transcriptomic and
epigenomic analyses, with guidance from expert mentors. Transgenic organisms and genome-wide analyses are
at the forefront of aging research, and can be applied together to gain deep insight into the molecular causes
and consequences of aging. The training activities of this proposal include individualized hands-on training,
attendance of training workshops, didactic coursework, and individual and team mentoring in professional
development. The proposed research will advance our understanding and ability to treat age-related disease
and - together with the proposed training activities - will provide me with the resources and tools to transition
into an independent career dedicated to understanding and treating age-related diseases and disorders at the
molecular level.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10401177
- **Project number:** 3K99AG057812-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jackson Richard Taylor
- **Activity code:** K99 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $114,624
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10401177

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10401177, Mechanisms of Lifespan Regulation by Sirt6 in Drosophila melanogaster (3K99AG057812-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10401177. Licensed CC0.

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