Two structurally distinct RNP complexes (MI and MII), each with a sedimentation value of approx. 40S, were isolated from rat liver nuclear extracts by sucrose gradient centrifugation and subsequent native gel electrophoresis of the 40S hnRNP-containing fractions. MII RNP contained the bulk of hnRNA and hnRNP proteins (i.e. the 32-45KD core proteins and polypeptides of 60-80 and 110-130KD). MI RNP was characterized by the exclusive presence of U-snRNAs (U1, U2, U4, U5 and U6), their well known snRNP polypeptides and a number of Sm-associated proteins in the range of 50-210KD. Immunoselection experiments employing a monoclonal antibody with an established specificity for the U2-snRNP-specific B" polypeptide proved that the RNA and protein components characteristic of MI were part of a single multi-snRNP unit. The prominent 200/210KD protein doublet of MI was identified immunochemically as the rat homologue of the yeast PRP8 protein, a known U5-associated splicing component. Based on the major biochemical and immunochemical features of MI and MII RNP complexes, we conclude that MII represents the monomeric 40S hnRNP structure, whereas MI defines a novel multi-snRNP entity.