Nobel Prize in Medicine Awarded to Ambros and Ruvkun for Groundbreaking MicroRNA Discovery

Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun: Nobel Laureates in Medicine for MicroRNA Research.

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded to US scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their groundbreaking work on microRNA, a molecule that plays a crucial role in governing cellular function. Their research uncovered how genes, which serve as the blueprint for life, lead to the formation of various cell types in the human body, a process known as gene regulation.

The Nobel Prize committee announced this prestigious honor in Sweden on October 7, this discovery is seen as a pinnacle of scientific achievement, which revealed an entirely new dimension of gene regulation. The discovery of microRNA and its role in gene regulation is the culmination of decades of work by Ambros, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and Ruvkun, a professor of genetics at Harvard Medical School. This family of molecules has been instrumental in helping cells manage the types of proteins they produce, a mechanism that has been in place for hundreds of millions of years.

Love Dalén, a professor of evolutionary genomics at Stockholm University, stated that it is essential to understand how cells function and how organisms develop. This discovery has significant impact across nearly all fields of biology and medicine. The information within our chromosomes serves as an instruction manual for all cells in the body and every cell contains the same chromosomes, meaning each cell holds an identical set of genes and instructions. However, different cell types, such as muscle and nerve cells, exhibit distinct characteristics. Both biologists dedicated their careers to investigating how these differences occur and found out that the answer lies in gene regulation, which enables each cell to activate only the relevant instructions, ensuring that only the appropriate set of genes is active in each cell type.

Gene regulation through microRNA has played a significant role in the evolution of increasingly complex organisms. When gene regulation is disrupted, it can lead to various conditions in humans and animals, including cancer, hearing loss, and skeletal disorders. This ongoing research aimed to develop treatments that either mimic or block microRNAs for cancer therapy. However, technical challenges have so far prevented the creation of any drugs based on this approach. The significance of this award reflects the fundamental importance of understanding physiology.

The early discovery of this research was based on the genetic makeup of the tiny roundworm, C. elegans. Despite its small size, this worm has various specialized cell types, such as nerve and muscle cells, making it an ideal model for studying tissue development in multicellular organisms. Olle Kämpe, a professor at Karolinska Institutet and vice chair of the Nobel medicine committee, highlighted that Ambros discovered the first microRNA in 1993, but it was initially seen as an oddity specific to C. elegans for over seven years. The committee noted that the discovery initially received a "deafening silence," with many deeming it irrelevant to human biology. However, after Ruvkun's findings on another microRNA gained recognition across the animal kingdom, interest in the field grew significantly, leading to the identification of tens of thousands of microRNAs in various organisms.

David Pendlebury, head of research analysis at Clarivate’s Institute for Scientific Information, emphasized that microRNAs present potential diagnostic and therapeutic opportunities for treating cancer and other diseases, with ongoing clinical trials utilizing microRNA profiling for patient prognosis. Janosch Heller, an assistant professor in biomedical sciences at Dublin City University, remarked that their work revealed the intricate mechanisms controlling cellular processes. Joshua Rosenthal, a senior scientist at the Marine Biological Laboratory, explained that the discovery of microRNA helps clarify why many organisms have similar gene counts despite differing complexities. The ability to turn genes on, and off, and modulate their activity is crucial for generating complexity.

The previous year, the Nobel Prize was awarded to Katalin Karikó and Drew Weissman for their contributions to mRNA vaccines, which played a vital role in combating COVID-19. The prize includes a cash award of 11 million Swedish kronor (approximately $1 million).

Editor's Note:

The recent awarding of the Nobel Prize in Medicine to American biologists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun marks a significant milestone in our understanding of cellular biology. Their pioneering work on microRNA has not only revealed fundamental mechanisms of gene regulation but has also opened new avenues for potential diagnostic and therapeutic advancements in treating various diseases, including cancer. This recognition highlights the enduring impact of basic scientific research on clinical applications and underscores the importance of continued exploration in the life sciences. 

Skoobuzz congratulates both scientists as this groundbreaking discovery will play an important role in shaping the future of medicine and improving human health.