Sequences around the 3'-end of a ribosomal RNA gene of hamster mitochondria. Further support for the 'transcriptional attenuation' model.

We have determined DNA sequences near and beyond the end of the large ribosomal subunit RNA gene of hamster mitochondria. They indicate that (1) at least 20% of the rRNA transcripts terminate beyond the gene, in the downstream tRNAleu gene; (2) a transcription-attenuator-like structure occurs just upstream from the end of the rRNA gene; and (3) a conserved reading frame (' URF1 ') has an unusual initiation codon, GTG, in rodent mitochondria.