Increasing Sirt4 Activity May Help Treat Age-Related Metabolic Decline and Disorders

Scientists report that fruit flies inhibited from producing the protein Sirt4 are short-lived, while flies modified to make extra Sirt4 are live longer. Flies lacking Sirt4 show increased sensitivity to starvation, decreased fertility and activity, and an inability to use energy stores in their bodies, add the researchers, who say their work suggests that increasing Sirt4 activity may be an important approach for treating age-related metabolic decline and disorders, such as diabetes and obe