Nobel Prize for Medicine 2024 to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNA

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 was assigned to Victor Ambros And Gary Ruvkuntwo American scientists who made a decisive contribution to the understanding of genetic regulation through the discovery of microRNA. This tiny but fundamental RNA molecule has opened new avenues in biology, revolutionizing the way we now understand the mechanisms that govern the functioning of cells.

Their discovery, born from the observation of little worm Caenorhabditis eleganshas brought to light a genetic regulation system whose existence was unknown until a few decades ago. The microRNA, despite its size, is capable of control which genes are expressedplaying a key role in coordinating the development and function of complex organisms, including humans.

What are microRNAs and why are they so important?

To understand the importance of the discovery, it is useful to take a step back and understand what exactly microRNAs are. These are small RNA molecules, approximately 20-25 nucleotides long, which do not code for proteins, but which regulate gene expression by binding to the mRNA (messenger) and blocking its translation into proteins. This mechanism turns out to be crucial for the control of many cellular processes, including the embryonic developmentthe cellular differentiation and the programmed cell death (apoptosis).

In other words, microRNAs act as “genetic switches“, activating or deactivating specific genes based on the needs of the organism. Thanks to this discovery, today we know that microRNAs they are fundamental for the regulation of vital functions in many organismsand their dysfunction has been associated with several diseases, including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

A discovery that starts from a microscopic worm

The journey that led Ambros and Ruvkun to the discovery of microRNA began in biology laboratories, where the microscopic worm C. elegans was studied. This organism has been a key model in genetic research for decades, thanks to its simplicity and how quickly it reproduces. It is precisely in this context that the two scientists observed a peculiar behavior: some cells they seemed to “silence” the expression of certain genes.

Deepening the observation, Ambros and Ruvkun discovered that this mechanism of gene regulation was mediated by small RNA molecules, hitherto unknown: microRNAs. The discovery overturned the traditional idea that RNA had a purely passive role in carrying genetic information. MicroRNA, on the other hand, it has proven to be an active element in regulating the life of cells.

The value of the discovery and its implications

The discovery of microRNA marked an epochal turning point in molecular biology, expanding our understanding of how living organisms regulate their genetic processes. Today, microRNAs are studied in numerous fields, from developmental biology to oncology medicine. Their ability to influence gene expression makes them potential therapeutic targets for many diseases.

For example, malfunctioning microRNAs have been linked to the progression of several types of tumors. This has opened up new possibilities for the development of targeted treatments, which could restore the correct functioning of these molecules, preventing or slowing down tumor growth.

The week of the Nobel Prizes

The Nobel Prize for Medicine awarded to Ambros and Ruvkun is only the first recognition of a week that will see the best scientists and intellectuals in various fields rewarded. The prestigious award for Medicine was awarded byNobel Assembly of the Karolinska Institutet of Stockholm, which every year selects the most significant discoveries in the field of physiology and medicine.

After the Nobel Prize for Medicine, the week will continue with the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Physicsfollowed by those for the Chemistry, Literature, Peace and finally the Prize for Economicswhich will close the ceremony next Monday.

Nobel Prize for Medicine 2023: a connection with the past

It is interesting to note how the discoveries awarded in 2024 have a strong link with those of 2023, when the Nobel Prize for Medicine was awarded to Katalin Kariko And Drew Weissman for their work on mRNA, a key molecule for the development of vaccines against Covid-19.

If mRNA was crucial in the fight against the pandemic, microRNAs are now equally important for our understanding of genetic regulation and potential cures for chronic and serious diseases.

Follow us on Telegram | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok | Youtube