A Short 5' Flanking Region Containing Conserved Sequences is Required for Silkworm Alanine tRNA Gene Activity

Using partially deleted genes, we have identified an upstream control signal required for transcription of a Bombyx mori (silkworm) tRNA₂^Ala gene. The 5‧ boundary of this essential region lies between 34 and 11 nucleotides preceding the transcription initiation site. Sequences in the 5‧ half of the tRNA₂^Ala coding region are also important. Both regions contain oligonucleotides that are conserved among several Bombyx genes transcribed by RNA polymerase III, suggesting that these sequences may have a general control function.