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Updated: Feb 6, 2026

Determining the Role of Maternally-Expressed Genes in Early Development with Maternal Crispants
Published on: December 21, 2021
Structural characterization of maternally expressed gene 3 RNA reveals conserved motifs and potential sites of
Chringma Sherpa1, Jason W Rausch1, Stuart Fj Le Grice1
1Basic Research Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
Abstract:
Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as key players in gene regulation. However, our incomplete understanding of the structure of lncRNAs has hindered molecular characterization of their function. Maternally expressed gene 3 (Meg3) lncRNA is a tumor suppressor that is downregulated in various types of cancer. Mechanistic studies have reported a role for Meg3 in epigenetic regulation by interacting with chromatin-modifying complexes such as the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), guiding them to genomic sites via DNA-RNA triplex formation. Resolving the structure of Meg3 RNA and characterizing its interactions with cellular binding partners will deepen our understanding of tumorigenesis and provide a framework for RNA-based anti-cancer therapies. Herein, we characterize the architectural landscape of Meg3 RNA and its interactions with PRC2 from a functional standpoint.
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