The organization, structure, and in vitro transcription of Alu family RNA polymerase III transcription units in the human alpha-like globin gene cluster: precipitation of in vitro transcripts by lupus anti-La antibodies.

We have studied the location, structure, and in vitro transcription of repetitive DNA sequences within the human alpha-like globin gene cluster. At least eight different Alu family repeats were identified, each of which is transcribed in vitro to produce discrete RNA transcripts. The nucleotide sequence of one Alu repeat sequence, located on the 3' side of the alpha l globin gene (3'-alpha l), was determined and compared to published Alu repeat sequences. In vitro transcription of this repeat sequence generates RNA fragments of approximately 410, 260, 160, and 86 nucleotides. To determine whether these transcripts associate with specific proteins in vitro, we carried out immunoprecipitation experiments using an antiserum from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. We find that the antiserum anti-La, which was shown to precipitate ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) containing the adenovirus VAI RNA from virus infected cells, preferentially precipitates the smallest two in vitro transcripts of the 3'-alpha l Alu repeat. These results suggest that the RNAs interact with specific factors in the in vitro transcription reaction mix to form RNP.