Homologous In Vitro Transcription of Linear DNA Fragments Containing the tRNA Arg -tRNA Asp Gene Pair From Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Transcription of a tRNAArg-tRNAAsp gene pair from Saccharomyces cerevisiae by an homologous yeast extract results in a dimeric percursor molecule which is processed to mature-sized tRNAArg and tRNAAsp molecules. We have transcribed linear DNA fragments cleaved within the gene sequences to show that precursor synthesis is not dependent on the internal promoter of the second gene (tRNAAsp). Furthermore, the second gene does not support independent transcription when the normal upstream initiation site is removed.