MicroRNA, enormous impact — Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun win the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1006-7795.2024.06.025

Abstract

Abstract: On October 7, 2024, the Karolinska Institute in Sweden awarded that the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine to American scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun in recognition of their contributions to the discovery of microRNA (miRNA). miRNA is a class of small RNA molecules that regulate gene expression by binding to messenger RNA (mRNA). This mechanism is not only widely present in model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), but also plays a significant role in multicellular organisms, including humans. Ambros and Ruvkun's research has revolutionized the traditional understanding of gene regulation, revealing the central role of RNA in gene expression. miRNA plays a critical role in cell development and differentiation, offering new perspectives for studying cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. The discovery, together with RNA interference (RNAi) technology, has enriched research in the RNA field and advanced the development of RNA-based therapeutics.

Key words: 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, microRNA, gene regulation, developmental biology

CLC Number:

Q752

Tan Naichuan, Meng Yan, Zhao Heng. MicroRNA, enormous impact — Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun win the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine[J]. Journal of Capital Medical University, doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-7795.2024.06.025.

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