摘要：SummaryMutations in ERCC2/XPD helicase, an important component of the TFIIH complex, cause distinct human genetic disorders which exhibit various pathological features. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying many symptoms remain elusive. Here, we have shown that Ercc2/Xpd deficiency in zebrafish resulted in hypoplastic digestive organs with normal bud initiation but later failed to grow. The proliferation of intestinal endothelial cells was impaired inercc2/xpdmutants, and mitochondrial abnormalities, autophagy, and inflammation were highly induced. Further studies revealed that these abnormalities were associated with the perturbation of rRNA synthesis and nucleolar stress in a p53-independent manner. As TFIIH has only been implicated in RNA polymerase I-dependent transcriptionin vitro, our results provide the first evidence for the connection between Ercc2/Xpd and rRNA synthesis in an animal model that recapitulates certain key characteristics of ERCC2/XPD-related human genetic disorders, and will greatly advance our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of these diseases.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•Ercc2/Xpd deficiency results in failure of digestive organ growth in zebrafish•Ercc2/Xpd-deficient intestinal endothelial cells exhibit impaired proliferation•Mitochondrial abnormalities, autophagy, and inflammation are highly induced•rRNA synthesis perturbation leads to nucleolar stress in a p53-independent mannerAnimal Physiology; Biological sciences; Cell biology; Molecular biology.
