Small RNA species of the HeLa cell: metabolism and subcellular localization.

The small molecular weight RNAs of the HeLa cell have been located in specific subcellular fractions. SnA is located in the nucleolus and is partially bonded to nucleolar 28S RNA. SnD, the most abundant of the small nuclear RNAs, is partially released from the nucleus when the nuclear preparation is briefly warmed. SnF is released from the nuclei when chromatin is digested with the micrococcal nuclease and not when pancreatic DNAase is used. The remainder of the small nuclear species remain in the nucleus following the digestion of chromatin and are concluded to be elements of the "nuclear skeleton." SnK is found predominantly in the cytoplasm, but migrates quantitatively to the nuclear fraction in the presence of high levels of actinomycin D. ScL is totally cytoplasmic and is partially bound to cell membranes. It is the 7S RNA found in oncornavirus virions. All the small nuclear RNAs appear initially in the cytoplasmic fraction before fixation in the nucleus. Two short-lived cytoplasmic species behave kinetically as precursors to the stable nuclear RNAs.