MicroRNAs in Retinal Pathophysiology and Therapeutics

Following identification of tRNA and rRNA, the non-protein coding RNAs (ncRNAs) have been demonstrated to possess catalytic ribozyme functions (Cech et al., 1981; Guerrier-Takada et al., 1983). In recognition of the latter work, T.R. Cech and S. Altman were awarded the 1989 Noble Prize in Chemistry. Fire, et al. (1998) discovered that small double stranded RNA (ds RNA) silences the gene expression. For this observation Andre Fire and C.C. Mello earned the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. Two years later, V.R. Ambros, D.C. Baucombe, and G.B. Ruvkun were honored with the Albert Lasker Basic Medical Research Award (2008) for their contributions in the field of small RNA dependent gene regulation in plants and animals. All these findings have revolutionized the fields of gene regulation, RNA biology and brought out the possibilities of its exploitation for understanding the living processes and for use as therapeutic agents.