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We have investigated transcription termination on a segment of Drosophila DNA that complements a yeast adenine-8 mutation. Poly(A)+ RNA transcribed from this segment in yeast terminates at multiple sites clustered just beyond an AAUAAA sequence implicated in polyadenylation of higher eucaryotic messages. Deletion analysis indicates that, in yeast, this sequence is not required for polyadenylation. Rather, transcription termination is signalled by a region that is upstream of the AAUAAA sequence. At least part of the control region appears to be an 8-base pair (bp) sequence also found in the termination control region of the yeast CYC1 gene. Termination sites for the various deletions show a clear sequence preference. These sites occur in clusters at least 50 bp downstream of the control region, suggesting similarities between termination in yeast and p-dependent termination in bacteria.

We have mapped a signal sequence for mRNA 3'-end formation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by using a Drosophila melanogaster DNA segment that complements a yeast adenine-8 mutation. That the 3' end of the transcript in S. cerevisiae nearly coincides with that in D. melanogaster is consistent with the possibility that mRNA termini are similarly determined in both organisms. Deletion analysis reveals that the complete signal is no more than 21 base pairs long. Part of the signal is the sequence TTTTTATA, which is seen in the termination region of several yeast genes. TTTTTATA appears to be able to act autonomously as a partial termination signal. The efficiency of the complete signal is affected by substitution of sequences downstream from it. This modulation of the effect of a signal is consistent with termination in S. cerevisiae, resembling rho-dependent termination in bacteria.