Mapping in vivo initiation sites of RNA transcription and determining their relative use

Runoff transcripts were generated on viral transcriptional complexes cleaved with restriction enzymes and incubated in vitro with [alpha-32P]UTP under pulse-chase conditions. As viral transcriptional complexes in vitro elongated the nascent RNA preinitiated in vivo, size analysis by gel electrophoresis of the runoff transcripts allowed identification of the in vivo initiation sites. Moreover, scanning the intensities of the runoff bands as they appeared in the autoradiogram of the gel allowed determination of the relative use of these sites. A model system in which the initiation sites of simian virus 40 late RNA were identified and their relative use determined is presented.