Interspecies Systems Biology Uncovers Metabolites Affecting C. elegans Gene Expression and Life History Traits
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Authors
Watson, EmmaMacNeil, Lesley T.
Ritter, Ashlyn D.
Yilmaz, L. Safak
Rosebrock, Adam P.
Caudy, Amy A.
Walhout, Albertha J. M.
Document Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2014-02-13Keywords
Cell and Developmental BiologyCellular and Molecular Physiology
Genetics and Genomics
Molecular Biology
Molecular, Genetic, and Biochemical Nutrition
Systems Biology
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Show full item recordAbstract
Diet greatly influences gene expression and physiology. In mammals, elucidating the effects and mechanisms of individual nutrients is challenging due to the complexity of both the animal and its diet. Here, we used an interspecies systems biology approach with Caenorhabditis elegans and two of its bacterial diets, Escherichia coli and Comamonas aquatica, to identify metabolites that affect the animal's gene expression and physiology. We identify vitamin B12 as the major dilutable metabolite provided by Comamonas aq. that regulates gene expression, accelerates development, and reduces fertility but does not affect lifespan. We find that vitamin B12 has a dual role in the animal: it affects development and fertility via the methionine/S-Adenosylmethionine (SAM) cycle and breaks down the short-chain fatty acid propionic acid, preventing its toxic buildup. Our interspecies systems biology approach provides a paradigm for understanding complex interactions between diet and physiology.Source
Watson E, Macneil LT, Ritter AD, Yilmaz LS, Rosebrock AP, Caudy AA, Walhout AJ. Interspecies Systems Biology Uncovers Metabolites Affecting C. elegans Gene Expression and Life History Traits. Cell. 2014 Feb 13;156(4):759-70. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2014.01.047. Link to article on publisher's websiteDOI
10.1016/j.cell.2014.01.047Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/49924PubMed ID
24529378Notes
First author Emma Watson is a doctoral student in the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (GSBS) at UMass Medical School.
Related Resources
Link to article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1016/j.cell.2014.01.047