Cell 1992 Dec 24;717:1215-21.

Mouse U14 snRNA is a processed intron of the cognate hsc70 heat shock pre-messenger RNA.

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U14 snRNA is a small nucleolar RNA species essential for eukaryotic pre-rRNA processing. We have previously shown that the mouse U14 snRNA genes are positioned within introns 5, 6, and 8 on the coding strand of the constitutively expressed cognate hsc70 heat shock gene. This genomic organization suggested the possibility that U14 snRNAs are transcribed as part of the hsc70 pre-mRNA and then excised from the intron to yield mature U14 snRNA species. To test this hypothesis directly, we have microinjected Xenopus oocytes with hsc70 pre-mRNA transcripts possessing intron 5 and the encoded U14 snRNA sequence. Processing results demonstrate that, in addition to the splicing of upstream and downstream exons, a mature 87 nt U14 snRNA is excised from the intron. Accurate excision of U14 snRNA from hsc70 intron 5 can occur in the absence of splicing. These results demonstrate a biosynthetic pathway for an snRNA species and provide a novel example of a eukaryotic pre-mRNA intron that is processed to produce a stable, biologically functional RNA species.

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Species referenced: Xenopus
Genes referenced: hspa8