[The sirtuin family : regulators that connect metabolism, aging, and longevity].

Recently, studies on the mechanisms of aging and longevity have been making significant progresses. Through those studies, the SIR2 (silent information regulator 2) family proteins, now called "sirtuins" , have drawn much attention as important regulators that connect metabolism, aging, and longevity. The general feature of sirtuin function is to maintain the robustness of the physiological system in response to or prevent its destruction from various internal and external perturbations. This particular function of sirtuins allows them to play critical roles in the regulation of many biological processes, including the regulation of aging and longevity. In this review article, recent findings in this quickly evolving field of sirtuin biology will be summarized, and the importance of sirtuins on the regulation of aging and longevity will be discussed.