Biologists Discover Unique Properties of MiR-93-5p MicroRNA in Prostate Cancer
Researchers at the International Laboratory of Microphysiological Systems of the HSE Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology investigated how different isoforms of the same microRNA influence gene function in prostate adenocarcinoma. The study found that in some cases, microRNAs can reinforce each other’s effects by targeting and suppressing the same genes. This finding offers a fresh perspective on the molecular mechanisms underlying tumour development and on the search for disease biomarkers. The results have been published in PeerJ.
MicroRNAs are small RNA molecules, typically 20–25 nucleotides long. They regulate gene expression by controlling how much protein is synthesised in a cell from a specific messenger RNA (mRNA) molecule. This regulation is mediated by a short sequence within the microRNA that can bind to a target mRNA if a complementary region is present. When binding occurs, translation of the mRNA is inhibited, leading to reduced gene expression.
A single microRNA can exist in several variants, known as isoforms. Until recently, these isoforms were thought to function differently and regulate distinct sets of genes. However, researchers at HSE University have shown that this is not always the case.
Biologists from the HSE Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology studied miR-93-5p, a microRNA that is highly expressed in oncological diseases, particularly prostate cancer. Moreover, higher expression levels are associated with more aggressive forms of cancer.
The scientists conducted experiments in a cell line with overexpressing isoforms shifted by 3–4 nucleotides relative to the canonical miR-93-5p and found that these isoforms can suppress 54 genes. Analysis of patient data showed that these genes are also negatively correlated with the canonical form of miR-93-5p. This suggests that both the canonical miR-93-5p and its isoforms share the same mRNA targets.
Anton Zhiyanov
'It turns out that the microRNA miR-93-5p is unique. We found that its canonical form and isoforms enhance each other’s effects by suppressing the same genes. This may explain the consistent oncogenic role of miR-93-5p in prostate cancer and its potential as a biomarker of disease progression,' explains co-author of the study Anton Zhiyanov, Research Fellow at the Laboratory of Molecular Physiology of the HSE Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men. According to the researchers, microRNAs could potentially serve as non-invasive biomarkers for the diagnosis and management of this disease, and a better understanding of gene regulation mechanisms may help identify new therapeutic targets.
See also:
Physicists Discover What Happens Inside a Stable Vortex
Large vortices with characteristic spiral arms are often observed in the atmosphere and the ocean. Physicists from HSE University have explained how these structures form and why they retain their shape. The researchers found that velocities at points located along the same vortex arc remain correlated even over long distances. At the same time, this correlation weakens rapidly with increasing distance from the vortex centre. These differences help explain the formation of spiral arms and may improve models of atmospheric and oceanic currents. The findings have been published in Physical Review Fluids.
HSE Computer Science Researchers Win Gold Medal at International Machine Learning Competition
A team comprising HSE International Laboratory of Statistical and Computational Genomics researchers Aleksei Shmelev and Nikita Chervov, 2025 graduate of the HSE Faculty of Computer Science’s Master’s programme in Data Analysis in Biology and Medicine Ivan Gevorkov, and two students from the United States achieved an outstanding result at the 2026 NeuroGolf international machine learning championship. The team won a gold medal and placed seventh overall.
‘Working with AI Solves a Wide Range of Engineering Problems’
Artificial intelligence is a working tool based on a balanced combination of algorithms and engineering. Experts and doctoral students from the HSE Moscow Institute of Electronics and Mathematics explain how AI technologies can improve an application, device, or system, and what engineering tasks are solved in the process.
‘The Peak of Stupidity’ and ‘The Valley of Despair’: HSE Economists Propose an Explanation for the Dunning–Kruger Effect
The Dunning–Kruger effect, which describes a sharp surge in self-confidence among beginners followed by an equally rapid decline as they gain experience, can be explained by the nature of the learning process and the acquisition of new knowledge. This conclusion was reached by Andrey Vorchik of the HSE Faculty of Economic Sciences together with independent researcher Murat Mamyshev. They developed a mathematical model of learning and demonstrated how subjective confidence is formed and changes as knowledge accumulates, as well as how teachers can reduce the ‘valley of despair’ experienced by learners.
Toffee and Risk: Scientists Discover Why People Who Crave Sweets Make More Impulsive Choices
Having a sweet tooth may be linked not only to eating habits but also to the way people make decisions. Researchers at HSE University have found that people with a preference for sweet foods tend to behave more impulsively—not because they want immediate rewards, but because they are less willing to tolerate uncertainty. These findings may help improve treatments for addiction. The study findings have been published in Frontiers in Psychology.
Advancing Collaboration: HSE Faculty of Computer Science and Harbin Institute of Technology Hold Joint Seminar
From July 13 to 16, 2026, the Faculty of Computer Science hosted the Russian–Sino Research Seminar on Machine Learning Applications, organised by the HSE Laboratory for Cloud and Mobile Technologies in partnership with the Harbin Institute of Technology (China). A delegation comprising seven students and three university representatives travelled to Moscow to take part in an intensive four-day programme.
Physicists Find a Way to Model Ion Parameters in Plasma in Seconds
Researchers from HSE University and the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology (MIPT) have developed a set of simple analytical methods for calculating the properties of heavy ions in helium under the influence of a strong electric field. The new approach speeds up calculations of ion mobility and ion–molecule reaction rates by thousands of times while maintaining sufficient accuracy for plasma jet modelling. The findings have been published in the journal Physica Scripta.
A New Section on AI and a Prizewinning Paper: Early-Career HSE Researchers Take Part in IEEE EDM Conference
The 27th IEEE International Conference of Young Professionals in Electron Devices and Materials (EDM) has taken place in the Altai Republic. This year, researchers from HSE University presented the results of their research and were involved in organising a new section on artificial intelligence. A paper by HSE master’s student Rodion Sidorenko was awarded third place in the research paper competition at the conference.
Two Years of Growth or Decline: How to Choose an Investment Strategy
Economists from HSE University, together with colleagues from international universities, have analysed stock market movements over almost a century and proposed an investment strategy that could have delivered returns nearly twice as high as the market average. Their research suggests following a momentum strategy during periods of sustained market growth and switching to a value strategy after prolonged market declines. The study has been published in the Journal of Banking and Finance.
Researchers Reveal Link Between Attention and Communication Difficulties in Autism
Researchers at HSE University have examined how communication difficulties in children with autism are related to brain function. The findings show that not only language networks but also attention networks play an important role. The weaker the connections involved in maintaining focus and switching attention, the more pronounced communication difficulties were. The study has been published in European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.