Wide distribution of short interspersed elements among eukaryotic genomes

Most short interspersed elements (SINEs) in eukaryotic genomes originate fr om tRNA and have internal promoters for RNA polymerase III. The promoter co ntains two boxes (A and B) spaced by similar to 33 bp, We used oligonucleot ide primers specific to these boxes to detect SINEs in the genomic DNA by p olymerase chain reaction (PCR), Appropriate DNA fragments mere revealed by PCR in 30 out of 35 eukaryotic species suggesting the wide distribution of SINEs. The PCR products were used for hybridization screening of genomic li braries which resulted in identification of four novel SINE families. The a pplication of this approach is illustrated by discovery of a SINE family in the genome of the bat Myotis daubentoni, Members of this SINE family terme d VES have an additional B-like box, a putative polyadenylation signal and RNA polymerase III terminator. (C) 1999 Federation of European Biochemical Societies.