Structural analysis of the 5' region of the chromosomal gene for hamster histidyl-tRNA synthetase.

The chromosomal gene (HRS) coding for hamster histidyl-tRNA synthetase, like many other housekeeping genes, lacks many of the features associated with promoters of RNA-polymerase-II-transcribed genes. HRS transcripts have multiple start points. Using RNase protection analysis, we also identified a 300-bp exon located only 36 bp away from the 5'-most start point of the HRS transcript. This exon hybridizes to a 3.5-kb transcript which transcribes from a different strand of DNA in the 5' region of the HRS gene. This divergent 3.5-kb transcript also has multiple transcription start points. The identity and function of this 3.5-kb transcript is not known.