Small cytoplasmic RNA associated with polyadenylated RNA is involved in the hormonal regulation of gene expression.

The fraction of small RNA (sacc-RNA) associated with cytoplasmic rat liver poly(A)+ RNA by non-covalent, possibly complementary, interactions has been isolated and studied. Fingerprint analysis and Northern blot hybridization data reveal that the specific changes occur in the population of sacc-RNA in response to glucocorticoid treatment. The close similarity of the oligonucleotide composition of sacc-RNA and RNA-component of small nuclear RNP-acceptor of glucocorticoid hormones has been found. The hypothesis of the involvement of the small RNA in the hormonal regulation of posttranscriptional stages of gene expression in the cytoplasm has been put forward.