Building on Ambros and Ruvkun's Nobel-Winning Studies with Revvity's microRNA Toolkit

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun for their groundbreaking discovery of microRNA and its pivotal role in post-transcriptional gene regulation. Their work revealed that small non-coding RNA molecules like lin-4 can bind to messenger RNA and inhibit protein synthesis, revolutionizing our understanding of gene regulation. ^{1, 2}

MicroRNAs are now recognized as key players in cell differentiation, apoptosis, and immune responses, with their dysregulation linked to cancer, diabetes, and neurodegenerative disorders. This discovery opened new avenues for therapeutic interventions, enabling researchers to target specific genes with unprecedented precision.

Revvity's Advanced MicroRNA Research Tools

Researchers can leverage Revvity's versatile tools to explore microRNA involvement in biological and disease pathways. Revvity's Dharmacon™ miRIDIAN™ microRNA Hairpin Inhibitors offer a loss-of-function approach by selectively binding and sequestering mature miRNA. Conversely, Dharmacon miRIDIAN microRNA Mimics simulate miRNA overexpression by mimicking endogenous mature microRNA function. For long-term studies, Dharmacon shMIMIC lentiviral microRNAs enable stable or inducible over-expression of mature human, mouse and rat microRNAs, ideal for hard-to-transfect cells.

Revvity's NEXTFLEX Small RNA Sequencing Kit streamlines library preparation for small RNA sequencing on Illumina^® and Element Biosciences^® platforms. This gel-free workflow reduces bias and works with low-input samples, making it ideal for challenging specimens like plasma, serum, or exosomes.

microRNAs as Bidirectional Regulators

Recent research continues revealing new microRNA functions. In January, the Mahal lab published a study challenging the canonical view that miRNA binding results in downregulation.⁵ Using Dharmacon miRIDIAN tools, they investigated miRNA co-regulation of proteins CD98hc and ST3GAL1/ST3GAL2, critical to melanoma progression. Their study provided compelling evidence of miRNA-mediated up-regulation, positioning miRNAs as bidirectional tuners of protein expression.

Building on Ambros and Ruvkun's seminal work, microRNA research continues transforming our understanding of gene regulation and disease. With Revvity's advanced tools, scientists can explore miRNA function with precision, unlocking new possibilities for diagnostics and treatment.

Explore Revvity's Complete microRNA Solutions

Discover how Revvity's comprehensive microRNA toolkit can advance your research. Visit https://horizondiscovery.com/en/gene-modulation/knockdown/mirna to explore our complete range of miRNA modulation and sequencing solutions.

References

1. Lee, Rosalind C., et al. "The C. Elegans Heterochronic Gene Lin-4 Encodes Small RNAs with Antisense Complementarity to Lin-14." Cell, vol. 75, no. 5, 1993, pp. 843–54.
2. Wightman, Bruce, et al. "Posttranscriptional Regulation of the Heterochronic Gene Lin-14 by Lin-4 Mediates Temporal Pattern Formation in C. Elegans." Cell, vol. 75, no. 5, 1993, pp. 855–62.
3. Reinhart, Brenda J., et al. "The 21-Nucleotide Let-7 RNA Regulates Developmental Timing in Caenorhabditis Elegans." Nature, vol. 403, no. 6772, 2000, pp. 901–06.
4. Pasquinelli, Amy E., et al. "Conservation of the Sequence and Temporal Expression of Let-7 Heterochronic Regulatory RNA." Nature, vol. 408, no. 6808, 2000, pp. 86–89.
5. Jame-Chenarboo, Faezeh, et al. "Screening the Human MiRNA Interactome Reveals Coordinated Up-Regulation in Melanoma, Adding Bidirectional Regulation to MiRNA Networks." Science Advances, vol. 11, no. 2, Jan. 2025, p. eadr0277.