{
  "abstract": "Developmental programs must remain robust despite fluctuations in maternal nutrition, yet the genetic basis of this robustness is incompletely understood. Using an unbiased, diet-dependent forward genetic screen in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, we searched for mutants with normal embryogenesis on standard food but defective development when mothers experienced poor nutrition. We isolated a mutation in acaa-2, which encodes an enzyme catalyzing the final step of mitochondrial fatty acid {beta}-oxidation, and confirmed its role using an independent deletion allele. acaa-2 mutant embryos exhibit a marked hatching delay specifically when mothers consume a low-quality diet. Despite remaining motile within the eggshell, mutant embryos are associated with increased unoccupied intra-eggshell space, consistent with impaired late embryonic growth. Our findings reveal a previously unrecognized role for acaa-2 and suggest that mitochondrial fatty acid {beta}-oxidation acts as a metabolic buffer that promotes developmental robustness under maternal nutrient limitation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Division of Material and Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Japan Women's University"
  ],
  "article_type": "New results",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Y. Komachiya"
    },
    {
      "name": "R. Kato"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "H. Ohno"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fqpx688zmqn1y.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.64898/2026.09.29.755286",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755286v1.full",
  "id": "fqpx688zmqn1y",
  "issns": [],
  "landing_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755286v1",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "biorxiv",
      "developmental biology"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1302|Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214944460",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755286v1.full.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-29",
  "publisher": null,
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fqpx688zmqn1y.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:25:25Z",
      "native_id": "10.64898/2026.09.29.755286",
      "source": "biorxiv",
      "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.29.755286v1"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "biorxiv:developmental biology",
      "subfield": "developmental-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Loss of the fatty acid β-oxidation gene acaa-2 impairs timely hatching under poor maternal diet in C. elegans",
  "title_text": "Loss of the fatty acid β-oxidation gene acaa-2 impairs timely hatching under poor maternal diet in C. elegans",
  "type": "preprint",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:25:25Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/fqpx688zmqn1y",
  "venue": "bioRxiv",
  "versions": []
}