Ambros and Ruvkun together sense the antisense

Abstract

Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024 for discovering microRNAs (miRNAs) and their fundamental role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. The discovery, stemming from studies on heterochronic genes in Caenorhabditis elegans, revealed a class of small, non-coding RNA molecules that fine-tune gene expression by cleaving target messenger RNAs (mRNAs) or inhibiting their translation. To understand the importance of their contribution to Physiology or Medicine, the article touched upon the biogenesis and mechanism of action of miRNAs, highlighting their crucial involvement in diverse biological processes, including development, differentiation, and cellular homeostasis. Furthermore, it discusses the implications of miRNA dysregulation in various human diseases, such as cancer, and explores their potential as diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. The synergistic collaboration between Ambros and Ruvkun, initiated during their postdoctoral fellowships, exemplifies the power of collaborative scientific inquiry and has profoundly impacted our understanding of molecular biology and gene regulation, opening new avenues for future research and medical applications.