Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells adjust the metabolism to maintain viability in response to atrazine stress

•Results indicate energy alterations in C. reinhardtii cells exposed to atrazine.•Cellular metabolic activity decreased in atrazine treated cells.•Cytoplasmic and mitochondrial membrane potentials were altered in exposed cells.•Atrazine exposed cells were able to maintain cellular viability.•RNA-Seq revealed upregulated transcripts related to heterotrophic energy generation.