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Father’s diet influences son’s metabolic health through sperm RNA

DNA from organelles called mitochondria is not inherited from the father. But mitochondrial RNAs that sense paternal diet and mitochondrial quality are delivered from sperm to egg, affecting offspring metabolism.
  1. Chen Cai

    1. Chen Cai is in the Molecular Medicine Program, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, and the Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA.

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  2. Qi Chen

    1. Qi Chen is in the Molecular Medicine Program, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, and the Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA.

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DNA found in organelles called mitochondria (mtDNA) is inherited exclusively from the mother, owing to mechanisms that include the elimination of mtDNA from sperm before fertilization1. However, various types of RNA carried by sperm can respond to environmental conditions and influence the traits (phenotypes) of offspring, including whether or not they develop metabolic disorders2–5. Writing in Nature, Tomar et al.6 find that, in both mice and humans, specific mitochondrial RNAs in sperm act as sensors of paternal diet and mitochondrial quality. This potentially regulates offspring metabolism by affecting embryonic development.

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Nature 630, 571-573 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-01502-w

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Competing Interests

The authors declare no competing interests.

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