Transcription of the 'non-transcribed' spacer of Drosophila melanogaster rDNA

Abstract

We have detected a set of transcripts in Drosophila melanogaster cells which are homologous to repeating elements within the 'non-transcribed' spacer region of rDNA. The RNA molecules range from 240 to 1680 nucleotides, differing in length by an integral value of 240 nucleotides. We have sequenced several AluI fragments which characterise the main 240 nucleotide repeating element. We find that each of these fragments contain a segment of approximately 50 nucleotides, which is homologous to the transcription initiation site for pre-rRNA. © 1983 IRL Press Limited.