2.4 Transcriptomic analysis
Algal pellets were separated from the medium by centrifugation. Then, the pellets were washed three times (5 min each) with phosphorus buffer solution (PBS) and stored at -80 oC prior to transcriptomic analysis [23]. According to the SEM results, there was a significant difference in the cell morphology between the 200 mg/L mineral additions and the control, however upon the 500 mg/L exposure to Mt and Pal, a large number of dead cells was observed. Therefore, the transcriptome analyses were performed at the 200mg/L mineral treatments.