Characterization of an essential Saccharomyces cerevisiae gene related to RNA processing: cloning of RNA1 and generation of a new allele with a novel phenotype.

The RNA1 gene product is believed to be involved in RNA metabolism due to the phenotype of a single conditionally lethal, temperature-sensitive allele, rna1-1. We cloned the RNA1 gene and determined that it produces a 1,400-nucleotide polyadenylated transcript. On a multicopy plasmid, the mutant rna1-1 allele partially complements the rna1-1 temperature-sensitive growth defect. This suggests that the temperature-sensitive nature of the rna1-1 allele results from the synthesis of a product with lowered activity or stability at elevated temperatures or from a decrease in synthesis of the rna1-1 product at the restrictive temperature. A chromosomal disruption of RNA1 behaves as a recessive lethal mutation. Haploids bearing the disruption were isolated by sporulating a diploid heterozygous for the disrupted allele and the rna1-1 allele and possessing an episomal copy of the RNA1 gene. Analysis of the rescued haploids bearing the chromosomal disruption indicated that the recessive lethal phenotype of the RNA1 disruption is not merely due to a block in spore germination. Unexpectedly, diploids heterozygous for the disruption and the rna1-1 alleles become aneuploid for chromosome XIII at a frequency of 2 to 5%. It appears that the disrupted RNA1 allele on a multicopy plasmid also promotes aneuploidy for chromosome XIII. Promotion of aneuploidy seems to be a phenotype of this particular allele of RNA1.