- Two scientists share the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
- MicroRNAs: a long-known way to switch genes on and off
- The Nobel Prize consists of a gold medal, a diploma, and a cash prize
Two scientists share the 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine
The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Victor Ambrose and Gary Ravkan for the discovery of microRNAs and their role in post-transcriptional regulation of genes. Molecular biologist Ana Malashicheva explained the basic and applied implications of these discoveries for science.
V. Ambros, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, and G. Ravkan, a professor at Harvard University, who studies the development of different cell types, discovered microRNAs, a new class of RNA (ribonucleic acid) molecules that play a key role in gene regulation. The genetic information stored in DNA is transferred to the parent ribonucleic acid (mRNA) through transcription, which is used as a template for protein synthesis[1].
Since the mid-20th century, several key scientific discoveries have been made to explain the details of this process. In the late 1980s, Ambros and Ravkan worked in the laboratory of Robert Horwitz, who won the Nobel Prize in 2002. Working with a model organism, the worm C. Elegans, they tried to identify the genes that control the activation of certain genetic programs. This organism allows the study of many specialized cells, including nerve and muscle cells, present in more complex organisms.
The researchers tested two mutant worm lines, lin-4 and lin-14, which had different activation times for certain genetic programs during development. Further experiments with these model organisms led to the discovery of unusually short RNA molecules that encode information.
MicroRNAs: a long-known way to switch genes on and off
"Scientists have long been aware of the genetic mechanisms James Watson and Francis Crick discovered. They determine our inherited traits - blue eyes, long legs, etc. This is how information from genes is transformed into traits, and this is the traditional model," explained A. Malashicheva, PhD in Biology, Principal Investigator and Head of the Laboratory of Regenerative Biomedicine at the Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, "But what won today's Nobel Prize is more commonly used in the laboratory and has more applied value. It is not the most traditional method of gene regulation."
She said the value of microRNAs lies in their ability to be manipulated by scientists in the lab.
"With these small RNA molecules, we can experiment, turn genes on and off. How a particular gene behaves in a particular person depends very much on which of these molecules are present," the biologist explained. - Secondly, it has been shown that these small molecules can be involved in many diseases. MicroRNAs have been linked to cardiovascular disease and are known to be important to consider when developing therapies."
According to the experts, the application and action of these small molecules could one day lead to the treatment of some diseases.
"In our laboratory, we are fine-tuning gene expression with small RNAs to model diseases, especially aortic stenosis," she added.
According to Malashicheva, future progress will depend on the ability to manipulate microRNAs. "We are now at the descriptive stage. We know that some microRNAs regulate the expression of some genes. They determine which gene will behave and how. And we know that microRNAs are involved in some diseases. They accumulate, they are found in some diseases. And one of the therapies under development will likely target these small molecules," she explained.
The Nobel Prize consists of a gold medal, a diploma, and a cash prize
The Nobel Prize was established by the will of the Swedish inventor and industrialist A. Nobel (1895). In his will, Nobel gave 94% of his estate to five prizes (Physics, Chemistry, Physiology and Medicine, Literature and Peace) for individuals who have contributed to humanity. This decision was motivated by the guilt Nobel felt over his invention of dynamite, which was widely used in the military industry and brought him considerable profits. The Nobel Foundation was set up in 1900 and the Nobel Prizes were launched in 1901. 1968 The National Bank of Sweden established an additional prize in economics (launched in 1969).
The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences selects the winners for physics, chemistry, and economics, the Karolinska Institute (Stockholm) for physiology and medicine, the Swedish Academy for literature, and the Storting Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Parliament for peace. Around 200 candidates are selected for each nomination. The Nobel Prize is awarded to no more than three individuals or organizations in each field. The winners are traditionally announced in October each year, and the Nobel Prizes are awarded on 10 December, the day of Nobel's death. The Peace Prize is presented in Oslo by the Chairman of the Nobel Committee of the Norwegian Parliament's Storting Nobel Committee and the other by the King of Sweden in Stockholm.
The Nobel Prize consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a cash prize (2001-2011: €10 million). The prize money was 10 million Swedish kronor from 2001-2011, 8 million from 2012, 9 million from 2017, 10 million from 2020 and 11 million from 2023. If a prize is awarded to more than one person (or organization) in a particular field, the money is divided equally, or half goes to the more distinguished person/organization, and the other two get a quarter of the prize each.
