Parental dietary vitamin B12 causes intergenerational growth acceleration and protects offspring from pathogenic...

Area of Science:

• * Developmental Biology
• * Microbiology
• * Genetics

Background:

• * Parental environments significantly influence offspring development and immunity in model organisms like *C. elegans*.
• * Vitamin B12 has previously been linked to accelerated development and protection against bacterial pathogens in *C. elegans*.
• * The mechanisms underlying intergenerational effects of parental diet on offspring are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• * To investigate the impact of parental dietary vitamin B12 on *C. elegans* offspring development and immunity.
• * To elucidate the molecular pathways involved in vitamin B12-mediated intergenerational effects.
• * To determine if parental vitamin B12 confers tolerance to specific microsporidian and bacterial pathogens.

Main Methods:

• * *C. elegans* were exposed to diets supplemented with vitamin B12 or vitamin B12-producing bacteria.
• * Offspring growth rates, reproductive fitness during infection, and survival rates were assessed.
• * Genetic analyses focused on the methionine biosynthesis and propionyl-CoA breakdown pathways.

Main Results:

• * Parental vitamin B12 exposure led to a single generation of accelerated offspring growth.
• * Offspring exhibited increased reproductive fitness and tolerance to *Nematocida parisii* infection.
• * Protection against *Pseudomonas vranovensis* was observed, mediated by methionine biosynthesis and propionyl-CoA pathways.

Conclusions:

• * Parental microbial diet, specifically vitamin B12, can program offspring for accelerated growth and enhanced pathogen tolerance.
• * The methionine biosynthesis pathway is crucial for mediating these intergenerational effects.
• * Vitamin B12 transfer from parents to offspring represents a mechanism for adapting progeny to environmental conditions and pathogen exposure.