An intron-containing Schizosaccharomyces pombe U6 RNA gene can be transcribed by human RNA polymerase III.

A Schizosaccharomyces pombe U6 small nuclear RNA gene containing an intron has been described. We find that the S. pombe U6 gene is transcribed in a human (HeLa) cell S100 extract with an alpha-amanitin sensitivity characteristic of RNA polymerase III. The S. pombe U6 gene is also transcribed after transfection into human cells. The transcription of vertebrate U6 RNA genes by RNA polymerase III does not require intragenic control elements. The intron of the S. pombe U6 gene disrupts a "box A"-like intragenic sequence that is typically an RNA polymerase III transcription control element. This, together with the transcription of the S. pombe U6 gene by human RNA polymerase III, suggests that it is recognized by human U6 gene-specific transcription machinery.