Transcription by the multifunctional RNA polymerase I in Trypanosoma brucei functions independently of RPB7

► RPB7 is not a stable component of T. brucei RNA pol I. ► DNA occupancies of RPB7 and RPB9 appear to be congruent with each other, and different from that of the RNA pol I subunit RPB6z. ► RPB7 depletion from extract affects RNA pol II but not RNA pol I transcription. ► The nuclear localization of RPB7 does not appear to extend into the nucleolus.