PGI Discovers a Novel MicroRNA & Carries on Research on Its Potential

By 121 News Reporter
Mohali 16th April:-- The major scientific breakthrough in recent years
has been that human genome holds tiny microRNAs (micro-Ribonucleic
Acids) in its exquisite readout-code and this phenomenon has
revolutionized the way we look at the dynamic aspect of human genome
in the human health and diseased states. It is in this context that
the recent discovery of a novel microRNA (designated as miR-2909 in
the international literature) by Prof. Deepak Kaul assumes importance.
This microRNA has emerged not only to empower human immune T-cells to
fight microbial infections but also may play a crucial role in
evolution of autoimmune diseases as well as other degenerative
diseases like Coronary Heart Disease and Cancer. Prof. Kaul's
research, at present, is directed to understand its impact as a
double-edged sword in human health.
There exists a general recognition of the fact that about one-third of
human genome encodes about 35000 genes. Historically, rest of the
two-third human genome was considered to be a junk DNA which every
human cell had in its fold. The major scientific breakthrough in
recent years has been that this junk DNA encodes master-regulatory
molecules known as microRNAs which have the inherent capacity to
regulate all the 35000 genes responsible for human evolution. One such
microRNA (designated as miR-2909 by Sanger's miR-Base repository of
microRNAs discovered across the globe) was discovered by Prof. Deepak
Kaul for the first time in the year 2009 and subsequently this
microRNA was shown by his research group to regulate genes involved in
immunity as well as cancer and Coronary Heart Disease. It is in this
context Prof. Kaul's original research discovery assumes importance
because this microRNA has the inherent capacity to act as a guardian
of human genome through its ability to generate immune responses in
order to equip our body to fight against various microbial infections
as well as other auto-immune diseases. At present, extensive work is
being carried out by his research group to unfold and understand the
impact of this microRNA in human health in general and modulation of
immune responses in particular.