Transcription of a gene for human U1 small nuclear RNA

Transcription of U1 small nuclear RNA from a 592 bp fragment of human DNA was analyzed in vivo and in vitro. When injected into Xenopus laevis oocyte nuclei, the cloned DNA is transcribed by RNA polymerase II to make human U1 snRNA. Thus the sequences of this fragment are sufficient for expression of the U1 snRNA gene. Moreover, injection of templates carrying deletions of flanking sequences demonstrates that the DNA sequences required for in vivo transcription are located at least 100 nucleotides upstream from the point corresponding to the 5' end of mature U1 snRNA. In vitro transcription in a HeLa cell extract leads to synthesis not of mature U1 snRNA, but of a larger molecule starting 183 nucleotides upstream from the site corresponding to the 5' end of mature U1 snRNA. Transcription from this upstream promoter also is catalyzed by RNA polymerase II, and is comparable in efficiency with the very strong major late promoter of adenovirus 2. We propose that U1 snRNA is synthesized in vivo as a precursor that is processed by an enzyme or enzymes missing from our extracts.