Open AccessVitamin B 12 deficiency in Caenorhabditis elegans results in loss of fertility, extended life cycle, and reduced lifespan
Author(s) -
Bito Tomohiro,
Matsunaga Yohei,
Yabuta Yukinori,
Kawano Tsuyoshi,
Watanabe Fumio
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
febs open bio
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.718
H-Index - 31
ISSN - 2211-5463
DOI - 10.1016/j.fob.2013.01.008
Subject(s) - caenorhabditis elegans , phenotype , vitamin b12 , biology , vitamin deficiency , fertility , infertility , b vitamins , genetics , vitamin , endocrinology , medicine , gene , pregnancy , population , environmental health
Vitamin B 12 (B 12 ) deficiency has been linked to developmental disorders, metabolic abnormalities, and neuropathy; however, the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Caenorhabditis elegans grown under B 12 ‐deficient conditions for five generations develop severe B 12 deficiency associated with various phenotypes that include decreased egg‐laying capacity (infertility), prolonged life cycle (growth retardation), and reduced lifespan. These phenotypes resemble the consequences of B 12 deficiency in mammals, and can be induced in C. elegans in only 15 days. Thus, C. elegans is a suitable animal model for studying the biological processes induced by vitamin deficiency.