U6 snRNA is the most conserved of all the snRNAs
involved in pre-mRNA splicing, and likely plays an important
role in splicing catalysis. Using a U6 snRNA fragment encompassing
residues 25–99, we have identified a strong, UV-sensitive
tertiary intramolecular interaction. A 5′ deletion
that removed sequences up to nt 37 only slightly reduced
crosslinking, but further deletion of 11 bases, eliminating
the nearly invariant ACAGAGA sequence, essentially abolished
crosslinking, as did deletion of sequences 3′ of
82A. The crosslinked residues were mapped to 44G in the
ACAGAGA sequence and to 81C, the nucleotide at
the base of the U6 intramolecular helix, opposite the G
of the invariant AGC trinucleotide. This interaction
is striking in that it has the potential to juxtapose invariant
regions of U6 believed to play critical roles in splicing
catalysis.