The ribosomal spacer in Xenopus laevis is transcribed as part of the primary ribosomal RNA

Abstract

S1 mapping of Xenopus laevis ribosomal RNA transcripts, both in oocyte microinjection experiments and in vivo, shows that all but 212 bp of the so-called "non-transcribed" spacer (NTS) of the ribosomal DNA repeat is transcribed as part of the primary ribosomal transcript. The 40S pre-ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA) is therefore a processing intermediate. The primary ribosomal transcript co-terminates with the previously described spacer transcripts [Moss], at a site 213 bp upstream of the 40S pre-rRNA initiation site. This mode of transcription suggests a simple mechanism for the recently proposed phenomenon of "readthrough-enhancement", [Moss et al, Moss], where readthrough transcription from an upstream gene may enhance transcription of a gene immediately downstream in the tandem ribosomal repeat.