DAVID J. ELLIOTT*
AND MICHAEL ROSBASH
Department of Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute,
Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02254
Abstract
As an approach to the study of yeast pre-mRNA splicing in
vivo, we have examined properties of transcripts derived from
a gal-UAS intron-containing fusion gene encoding RP51A and a
series of its derivatives. RNA half-life measurements were
carried out after transcription initiation was blocked by the
addition of glucose. Pre-mRNA encoded by GalRP51A decayed with a
half life of ~6 min and was substantially polyedenylated, and
transcripts derived from a nonspliced version of the same gene
decayed with a similar half-life (~4 min). A comparison of the
steady-state levels of these two transcripts suggests that the
bulk of GalRP51A pre-mRNA is processed much more rapidly, with an
average lifetime of about 2 s. We propose that this inferred
population of rapidly processed molecules is spliced
cotranscriptionally and that it is the principal precursor to
GalRP51A mRNA. Although the pre-mRNA molecules detected are
therefore unlikely to be the major splicing precursors, an in
vivo assay suggests that they are likely to have bound
splicing factors. They must then be spliced much more slowly than
most primary transcripts, or not spliced at all and then degraded
through a different cellular pathway. As a result of its
comparatively long lifetime, this minor fraction of the pre-mRNA
population makes up the majority of the steady-state level of
GalRP51A pre-mRNA.
EXPERIMENTAL CELL RESEARCH 229
181 - 188 (1996)
ARTICLE NO. 0357
Copyright © 1996 Academic Press, Inc.
*Address (1996): MRC Human Genetics Unit, Chromosome Biology Section, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, Scotland
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