Discovery of Micro RNA

American scientists Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun have been jointly awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology for their groundbreaking discovery of micro RNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation.

Their collaborative work, which uncovered the existence and function of micro RNA (M RNA) within the body, earned them the 115th Nobel Prize in Medicine, announced by the Nobel Assembly at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden.

Ambros initiated this research at his Harvard University lab, while Ruvkun conducted similar studies at Massachusetts General Hospital.

What is M RNA?

• Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a single-stranded RNA involved in protein synthesis. It is synthesized from a DNA template during the transcription process.
• The primary role of mRNA is to carry genetic information from the DNA in a cell’s nucleus to the cytoplasm, where the cell’s protein-making machinery, such as ribosomes, reads the mRNA sequence. This sequence is then translated into corresponding amino acids, which form a growing protein chain.
• In essence, mRNA acts as a translator, bridging the DNA in the nucleus and the cellular machinery that produces proteins. While DNA contains the genetic code, mRNA is the intermediate form that the machinery recognizes and uses to assemble amino acids into proteins. This crucial link allows the genetic code to be converted into functional proteins, highlighting the importance of mRNA in the process of creating living organisms. Though DNA is often the focus of discussions, mRNA plays an equally vital role in translating the “code of life” into a functional being..
• mRNA (Messenger RNA) carries crucial instructions from our DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) to the cell’s machinery, guiding it on how to make specific proteins. Think of DNA as a library of cookbooks containing recipes (genes) for creating different proteins. Our bodies require around 100,000 proteins to function correctly, aiding in tasks like digestion and essential chemical reactions.
• When a cell needs a particular protein, it doesn’t read directly from the DNA. Instead, it creates a copy called mRNA. This mRNA acts as a messenger, delivering the instructions for protein synthesis. It is composed of four building blocks (A, U, C, G), arranged in three-letter “words.” By reading these mRNA instructions, cells know how to assemble the required protein efficiently.
• Cells are highly adept at recognizing, using, and discarding mRNA once its job is complete. However, mutations or errors in the DNA “recipe book” can disrupt the mRNA instructions, leading to problems in protein production and potentially causing diseases.

Application of M RNA

In Making Medicine

• Precision and Customization:
  Scientists understand how mRNAs instruct cells to produce proteins. This knowledge allows them to easily design codes for various proteins, customizing these codes to meet individual patient needs. Whether they are creating entirely new mRNA sequences or modifying existing ones, the flexibility enables personalized treatments.
• Scalability and Uniformity:
  The production of mRNA treatments is both scalable and consistent. The process for manufacturing one type of mRNA can be applied across different mRNA types. Unlike traditional drugs, which each require unique chemical processes, mRNA production follows a standardized method, similar to knowing a basic recipe and using it to create multiple variations.
• Easy Adaptability:
  Cells naturally degrade mRNA once it has completed its task, ensuring that mRNA treatments are not permanent. This allows for easy dose adjustments to match changing patient needs, as the body can efficiently remove unnecessary mRNA.
• Production Capacity:
  Scientists are capable of producing large quantities of mRNA in laboratory environments. This capacity for mass production facilitates the development and distribution of mRNA-based medicines on a larger scale.
• Expanded Vaccine Development:
  Clinical trials for mRNA-based vaccines are expanding to target diseases like seasonal flu, herpes, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), norovirus, Lyme disease, Zika, and shingles, offering a broader range of preventive treatments.
• Cancer Treatment Potential:
  mRNA therapies show promise in cancer treatment by harnessing the body’s immune response. Cancer vaccines, tailored to target specific mutations in tumors, enhance antibody production to mark and destroy cancer cells, offering a personalized approach that aims to minimize damage to healthy cells.

The study of microRNA has introduced new methods for treating diseases such as cancer, as it plays a key role in regulating gene activity within our cells.

The End of the Blog: Discovery of Micro RNA