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Nobel Prize in Medicine 2024: Ambros and Ruvkun awarded for the discovery of microRNAs

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Medicine has been awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for the discovery of microRNAs, small molecules essential in regulating gene expression and in the fight against diseases such as cancer.

Nobel Prize in Medicine 2024: Ambros and Ruvkun awarded for the discovery of microRNAs

Il Nobel Prize in Medicine 2024 was awarded to two American scientists Victor Ambrose e Gary Ruvkun, for their pioneering discovery of microRNAs (miRna) and their role in post-transcriptional gene activity regulation. These tiny RNA molecules (ribonucleic acid) are essential in controlling the process of gene expression, a complex system that allows cells to develop and function correctly. The discovery has opened new frontiers in understanding biological processes and in finding therapies against numerous diseases.

Who are the Nobel Prize winners for medicine 2024?

Victor Ambrose, born in 1953 in Hanover, New Hampshire, is a professor of Natural Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Gary Ruvkun, born in 1952 in Berkeley, California, teaches genetics at Harvard Medical School. Both have carried out research fundamental at the MIT (MIT) and other prestigious academic institutions.

What is microRNA?

In 1993, Ambros and Ruvkun, while studying the nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans, discovered that a small non-coding RNA, called lin-4, regulated the activity of another gene, lin-14, blocking its translation into protein. This discovery revealed theexistence of a new class of RNA, microRNAs, which act as regulators of gene expression by binding to messenger RNA (mRNA) molecules and preventing their translation into proteins.

MicroRNAs, which They are only 22 nucleotides long, have an essential function in the control of numerous genes, and it has been discovered that exist in almost all multicellular organisms, including humans.

Today we know that there are over a thousand microRNAs in the human genome, responsible for regulating numerous biological functions. Each microRNA can influence the expression of several genes, coordinating entire gene networks and maintaining the balance necessary for normal cellular function.

MicroRNA: the importance of the discovery

The discovery of microRNAs has revolutionized the field of molecular biology, as it introduced a new gene regulation mechanism which is essential for the development and maintenance of proper cellular functions. In addition to regulating the normal development of organisms, abnormalities in the function of microRNAs have been associated with numerous human diseases, including cancer, diabetes and various diseases autoimmune.

MicroRNA-mediated gene regulation represents an additional level of control that modulates the amount of protein produced by cells. This fine-tuning mechanism is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and adapting to changes in the internal and external environment of the organism.

MicroRNAs are the result of millions of years of evolution and play a central role in controlling gene expression in all living species. Without microRNAs, the normal development of organs and tissues would be compromised. Mutations in the genes that encode microRNAs can cause birth defects and predispose individuals to genetic diseases, such as congenital hearing loss or disorders of the skeleton.

Furthermore, microRNA dysfunction has been linked to several human diseases. For example, mutations that alter the production of microRNAs may contribute to the development of tumors or the onset of rare syndromes such as Dicer1 syndrome, an inherited condition that increases the risk of cancers in various organs.

MicroRNA: Clinical Implications and Innovative Therapies

One of the most important aspects of the discovery of Ambros and Ruvkun is the therapeutic potential of microRNAs. Clinical studies have shown that microRNAs can be used as biomarkers to diagnose diseases and monitor treatment response. Furthermore, microRNA manipulation offers new opportunities to develop innovative therapies, aimed at modulating gene expression in pathological conditions.

For example, microRNAs are currently subject of intense research in the field of gene therapy to treat diseases such as cancer, where restoring proper gene expression could prevent tumor growth. In Italy, the geneticist's laboratory also Joseph Novelli at the University of Tor Vergata in Rome is working on therapies based on microRNAs, with the aim of developing drugs that can “turn on” or “turn off” specific genes.

Nobel Week 2024

With the announcement of the Nobel Prize for Medicine, the Nobel Week 2024. Announcements for the Nobel Prizes in Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace and Economics will follow in the coming days. The prize for Physics will be announced on 8 October, followed by the Chemistry Award 9 October.

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