Fig. 5

Silencing of candidate trait genes in L. vannamei by RNA interference. (a) Agarose gel electrophoretogram showing in vitro dsRNA synthesis. M: DNA Marker 2000; lane 1: dsRNA-2329_0|path2; lane 2: dsRNA-5952_686|path0; lane 3: dsRNA-C10972/f3p0/1885; lane 4: dsRNA-545_0|path20; lane 5: dsRNA-egfp. mRNA levels of different dsRNAs injected into shrimp, including (b) dsRNA-2329_0|path2, (c) dsRNA-5952_686|path0, (d) dsRNA-C10972/f3p0/1885, and (e) dsRNA-545_0|path20. mRNA levels are shown in comparison to the control group injected with dsRNA-egfp at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h after injection. (f) Comparison of weight gain in L. vannamei 30 days after injection with different dsRNAs. The data were statistically analyzed using paired Student’s t-tests. Asterisks denote statistical significance (*: p < 0.5; **: p < 0.01). (g) Comparison of average body weight between LV-B and LV-S shrimp strains. The data were statistically analyzed using paired Student’s t-tests. Asterisks denote statistical significance (**: p < 0.01). (h) Comparison of the average expression level of Steap4 genes in LV-B and LV-S shrimp strains. The data were statistically analyzed using paired Student’s t-tests. Asterisks denote statistical significance (**: p < 0.01). (i) Correlation between individual body weight and the expression level of Steap4 genes in LV-B strain. (j) Correlation between individual body weight and the expression level of Steap4 genes in LV-S strain