p70 is a transcription factor that is involved in the initiation of transcription by RNA polymerase I and has been shown to cooperate with the selectivity factor SL1 for binding to the core promoter region of mammalian ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA). To examine a role of the p70-SL1 interaction in promoter recognition, mouse and human proteins were partially purified and analyzed by W-cross linking. Mouse rDNA core promoter was recognized by any combination of p70 and SL1 prepared from either species. In contrast, human p70 no longer bound to the human core promoter when mouse SL1 was used. Thus, a species-specific interaction between p70 and SL1 may be involved in the promoter selection for rDNA transcription.