A TRANSFECTED HUMAN RIBOSOMAL-RNA GENE IS PRESENT IN THE NUCLEOLUS OF HUMAN-CELLS

作者：HADJIARGYROU M; MCDOWELL KA; HENDERSON AS

来源：Cytogenetics and Cell Genetics, 1994, 66(1): 58-62.

DOI：10.1159/000133665

Intraspecies transfection of ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA) into human fibroblasts was used to reexamine characteristics of the rDNA complex which lead to participation in nucleolar formation. Two constructs of human rDNA were analyzed. One included an intact transcribed spacer and promoter region and most of the nontranscribed spacer (NTS) region. The second contained the transcribed spacer and much of the NTS region, but lacked the transcription initiation region. Transfected rDNA, shown to be present in single or low copy number and containing the promotor region, was present in nucleoli. In contrast, transfected rDNA lacking the promotor did not participate in nucleolar organizing region (NOR) formation. We conclude from this study that tandem repetition, a feature of rDNA organization, is not an absolute requirement for rDNA function and that the presence of the rDNA transcription initiation region and promotor is necessary in establishing an active NOR.

• 出版日期1994