Hedgehog-related wrt-10 and fasting effects on larval size in C. elegans
In C. elegans, fasting increased the chance of producing offspring in both wild-type and wrt-10 null mutants, but only wild-type worms produced longer larvae after fasting. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Reproductively aged wild-type worms and wrt-10(aus36) null mutants both had a greater likelihood of progeny production after 24-hour or 48-hour fasting in early adulthood. [1]
The authors state that wrt-10 is not required for this response. [1]
Unlike wild-type worms, wrt-10(aus36) mutants did not produce longer larvae after fasting. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Abstract of an experimental study in C. elegans
- Population / context
- Reproductively aged Caenorhabditis elegans wild-type worms and wrt-10(aus36) null mutants.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- August 6, 2026
Fasting and offspring in wild-type and mutant worms
The abstract describes a test of whether the Hedgehog-related gene wrt-10 mediates responses to low food in Caenorhabditis elegans. Reproductively aged wild-type worms and wrt-10(aus36) null mutants were compared after 24-hour or 48-hour fasting periods in early adulthood. Both groups had a greater likelihood of progeny production after fasting, which the authors say shows wrt-10 is not required for this response.
Supporting source [1]
Longer larvae only in fasted wild-type worms
The key difference concerned larval size. Unlike wild-type worms, wrt-10(aus36) mutants did not produce longer larvae after fasting. The authors therefore suggest that wrt-10 may enable diet-restricted adult C. elegans to channel resources towards their progeny. This is a proposed role for the gene, not a demonstrated mechanism.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope of the C. elegans study
This explainer is based only on the abstract; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract reports the fasting durations and the comparison of wild-type and mutant worms, but does not give sample sizes, the number of replicates or detailed outcome measures. The findings concern larval size and progeny production in a nematode, not human health or lifespan.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. Sample sizes, replicates and detailed outcome measures are not reported in the abstract. Results are from C. elegans, not humans.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Motkoski SK, Rossander E, Schweigel M, Karmani M, Templeman NM. · europepmc.org · August 6, 2026