Fidelity of preribosomal RNA transcription in vitro was studied after selective deproteinization of nucleoli using either sequential salt extraction or sodium deoxycholate treatment. Homochromatography fingerprinting and identification of marker oligonucleotides from a T1 ribonuclease digest of the transcripts were used to evaluate the RNA products. These studies indicated that: (1) nucleoli retained their endogenous RNA polymerase I activity and the specificity of transcription up to 0.6 M NaCl extraction; (2) exogenous RNA polymerase I transcribed nucleolar chromatin only after 1.0 M NaCl extraction and the transcription pattern, like that of totally deproteinized DNA, was completely random; (3) extraction of nucleoli with deoxycholate resulted in a DNP complex in which the endogenous RNA polymerase I transcribed pre-rRNA specifically; however, it also initiated random transcription, producing a "mixed" fingerprint pattern on the homochromatogram. The random transcription was selectively inhibited either by deoxycholate or rifampicin AF/013. These studies indicate that the selectivity of pre-rRNA transcription is due both to the endogenous RNA polymerase I molecules that were involved in transcription in vivo and are tightly bound to the template and to factors in intact nucleoli which prevent random transcription by the released RNA polymerase I molecules.