For their discovery of genomic imprinting, developmental biologists Davor Salter and Azim Surani will receive the 2026 Paul Ehrlich Ludwig Darmstätter Prize worth 120,000 euros on March 14 at the Paulskirche in Frankfurt. They discovered that we inherit some genes in only one active copy. This is determined by molecular marks that identify maternal or paternal origin, thereby laying the foundation for the field of epigenetics. The Early Career Award goes to neurologist Varun Venkataramani, who helped establish the field of cancer neuroscience by demonstrating that malignant brain tumors use nerve currents to stimulate their growth.
A long-standing principle of genetics held that all body cells contained two active copies of each gene. In 1984, Davor Salter and Azim Sulani overturned this basic rule. They demonstrated that some genes are inherited in only one active copy, with either the maternal or paternal copy permanently inactivated. Working independently and in parallel, they used the cell nuclear transfer technique developed by Salter to show that mouse embryos containing only the mother’s genetic material or only the father’s genetic material could not survive. This contradicts established theory. Their discoveries revealed that mammals, including humans, require the complete genetic contribution of both parents. This distinguishes them from species that can reproduce by parthenogenesis from unfertilized eggs. The underlying mechanism: Of the two copies of the gene we inherit from our mother and father, some are selectively turned off by epigenetic imprints (small molecular tags attached to our DNA). Surani named this phenomenon genomic imprinting.
This discovery was a turning point in modern genetics. It showed that our phenotypes are not determined solely by our genotypes, but are also shaped by our epigenetic marks. ”
Professor Thomas Boehm, President of the Scientific Council
Genomic imprinting is essential for healthy fetal development as it balances the competition for limited resources between mother and fetus. Its medical relevance goes far beyond embryology. Approximately 1% of human genes are imprinted, and many are found to be integrated into signaling pathways that influence health and disease in adulthood. The discovery of genomic imprinting gave rise to modern epigenetics, the study of molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression without changing DNA sequence. For example, epigenetic changes play an important role in cancer, and their insights have already led to the development of targeted therapies.
With a few exceptions, brain tumors do not arise from nerve cells that have stopped dividing. Most are gliomas that originate from glial cells, which support and nourish nerve cells. Varun Venkataramani discovered that gliomas can form synapses with neurons and harness electrical signals that drive tumor growth and spread. Over the past decade, he and his mentors have validated and deepened this unexpected discovery, helping to establish the field of cancer neuroscience. The research also opens up a new therapeutic avenue, which involves interfering with a tumor’s access to nerve signaling to stop its growth. This approach is currently being tested in a phase II clinical trial.
sauce:
Goethe University Frankfurt am Main
