Figure S5. Degradation of naked and liposome-encapsulated dsRNA in gut contents from Efficiency of RNA interference is improved by knockdown of dsRNA nucleases in tephritid fruit flies

Degradation of naked dsRNA and dsRNA combined with a liposome agent in (mixed sex) adult gut contents measured by band fluorescence intensity following 1.5% gel electrophoresis. A) DsRNA degradation after 10 min exposure to gut extracts; non-degraded dsRNA (dsRNA standard) was used as the reference, and dsRNA exposed to gut extracts (active guts+dsRNA) was fully degraded within 10 minutes, while liposome-protected dsRNA remained intact. B) DsRNA degradation after 60 minutes’ exposure to gut extracts. Liposomes still provided some protections to the dsRNA.