NAD to the Rescue

Abstract
Identified 15 years ago, the Wld mouse carries a spontaneous mutation that encodes a fusion protein with neuroprotective properties. In a Perspective, Simon discusses new work ( Araki et al.) that identifies the Nmnat1 fragment of the fusion protein as mediating neuroprotection by boosting NAD biosynthesis and increasing the activity of the NAD-dependent deacetylase, SIRT1, a regulator of transcription.