Shape-Dependent Interactions of Gold Nanoparticles with Microalgae: Distinct Cellular and Molecular Responses

mRNA-sequencing raw data.
Method: We collected algae after 72 h exposure to 10 mg/L AuNP and AuNS for RNA-seq to analyze mRNA expression. Chlamydomonas_reinhardtii (Version: CC-503 cw92 mt+). The differentially expressed transcripts and genes were selected with log2 (fold change) ≥ 1 or log2 (fold change) ≤ -1 and p value < 0.05 criteria with the R package edgeR(https://bioconductor.org/packages/edgeR).
Results: RNA sequencing identified 9 upregulated and 38 downregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the 10 mg/L AuNP treated cells, impairing photosynthesis and energy storage via the photosystem II subunit S1 (PSBS1)/ early light-inducible protein (ELI3) pathway. In contrast, the AuNS group exhibits 246 upregulated and 145 downregulated DEGs, affecting membrane integrity and nitrogen metabolism through the nitrate reductase (NIT1)/ aminomethyl transferase (AMT1)/ protein kinase domain-containing protein (A0A2K3CRU5) pathway.