The severe xeroderma pigmentosum/Cockayne syndrome (XP/CS) syndrome is caused by mutations in the XPB, XPD and XPG genes that encode the helicase subunits of TFIIH and the 3 0 endonuclease of nucleotide excision repair (NER). Because XPB and XPD have been implicated in p53-mediated apoptosis, we examined the possible involvement of XPG in this process. After ultraviolet light (UV) irradiation, primary fibroblasts of XP complementation group G (XP-G) individuals with CS enter apoptosis more readily than other NER-deficient cells, but this is unlinked to unrepaired damage. These XP-G/ CS cells accumulate p53 post-UV but they fail to accumulate the 90/92 kDa isoforms of Mdm2 and their cellular distribution of Mdm2 is impaired. Apoptosis levels revert to wild type, Mdm2 90/92 kDa isoforms accumulate, and Mdm2 regains its normal post-UV nuclear location in transduced XP-G/CS cells expressing wild-type XPG, but not an XPG catalytic site mutant. These results suggest that XPG suppresses UVinduced apoptosis and that this suppression, most simply, requires its endonuclease function.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.