Single-nucleus resolution mapping of the adult C. elegans and its application to elucidate inter- and trans-generational response to alcohol

Single-cell transcriptomic platforms provide an opportunity to map an organism’s response to environmental cues with high resolution. Here, we applied single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) to establish the tissue and cell type-resolved transcriptome of the adult C. elegans and characterize the inter- and trans-generational transcriptional impact of ethanol. We profiled the transcriptome of 41,749 nuclei resolving into 31 clusters, representing a diverse array of adult cell types including syncytial tissues. Following exposure to human-relevant doses of alcohol, several germline, striated muscle, and neuronal clusters were identified as being the most transcriptionally impacted at the F1 and F3 generations. The effect on germline clusters was confirmed by phenotypic enrichment analysis as well as by functional validation, which revealed a remarkable inter- and trans-generational increase in germline apoptosis, aneuploidy, and embryonic lethality. Together, snRNA-seq represents a valuable approach for the detailed examination of an adult organism’s response to environmental exposures.