Secondary structure models for yeast nuclear RNase P RNAs were derived by phylogenetic comparative analysis. RNase P RNA genes from six Saccharomyces species were characterized and compared with the published gene sequences of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (RPR1), Schizosaccharomyces pombe, and Schizosaccharomyces octosporus. The general organization of the Saccharomyces genes were similar: all were present in single copy and contained RNA polymerase III-specific regulatory elements, including tRNA gene-like A- and B-box promoters located within 5' leader regions and poly(T) terminators following the mature RNA domain. As observed previously, two RNase P RNAs were present in each of the species: a shorter RNA corresponding to the mature domain and a longer possible precursor RNA that includes the 5' leader sequences. The mature RNA domains of three of these genes were sufficiently divergent from the S. cerevisiae RNA such that compensatory base changes in paired elements were readily identified, yet homologous regions could be aligned. A striking common core of primary and secondary structure emerged for the Saccharomyces RNase P RNAs. Furthermore, the Schizosaccharomyces homologs conformed in large part to the Saccharomyces conserved core and shared with it a distinctive structural domain that has so far only been observed in the yeast nuclear RNase P RNAs. Comparison of the yeast core to a previously published eubacterial conserved core and to the RNA homologs from vertebrates revealed a number of similarities, suggesting that RNase P RNA from diverse sources may share a core of structurally conserved elements.