Abstract
A nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been widely used as a model organism in wide range of research fields such as biology and genetics for elucidation of life phenomena. This worm has many things in common with mammals as to the molecular mechanism associated with life phenomena and the cellular metabolism. In addition, C. elegans possesses many homologs of human disease-related genes. Therefore, it has been expected that this worm is actively used as a human disease model. We have clarified that C. elegans essentially requires vitamin B12 for normal growth like humans. We have also studied the unresolved pathogenic mechanism of dietary vitamin B12 deficiency resulting in productive disorder, growth retardation, and reduced lifespan, which are observed in humans, using this worm. In this article, the author introduces part of the mechanisms of vitamin B12 deficiency which has been clarified using this vitamin B12-deficient model. Furthermore, the author addresses advantage and disadvantage in the use of C. elegans for food and nutritional research.
