A transcriptional function for the repetitive ribosomal spacer in Xenopus laevis.

The function of the Xenopus laevis ribosomal spacer has been studied in vivo and by microinjection of in vitro mutants into Xenopus oocytes. It is shown that the spacer directs specific RNA transcripts which most probably terminate upstream of the ribosomal genes and that it is able to modulate transcription of these genes. The data lead to a model in which the ribosomal spacer is a loading site for RNA polymerase I and spacer transcription is the driving force by which polymerase is delivered to the ribosomal gene promoter.