Genomic and metatranscriptomic analyses reveal an active microbial hydrocarbon cycle in the photic zone
Samples intended for RNA extractions were placed in RNAlater to prevent RNA degradation. Total RNA extractions are described in Mason et al. (2012). The quantity and quality of extracted RNA was checked using a Bioanalyzer.  The RNA integrity number (RIN) was ~9.7 on a scale of 1-10, with 10 indicating that no degradation had occurred. Using a Ribo-Zero kit , rRNA was subtracted from total RNA. Subsequently, mRNA was reverse transcribed to cDNA as described by Mason et al. (2012). Amplified cDNA was sequenced using the Illumina HiSeq 2000 sequencing platform.