Figure 3.

Heterologous expression of StauC in part functionally compensates for the loss-of-function of Loqs-PD in Kc cells. Kc cells were pre-incubated with dsRNA corresponding to (A) GFP or D. melanogaster (B) Loqs-PD, (C) R2D2, or (D) DCR2 for 3 days to allow for a significant reduction in the target protein. A luciferase expression construct was then transfected into the cells along with pIEx4 or pIEx4/StauC. 4 h after transfection; the cells were exposed to different concentrations of dsLuc (3.9 ng/ml – 7000 ng/ml) for 48 h. Incubation with 3.9 ng/ml dsLuc induced no significant reduction in luciferase activity in all the tested groups, compared to no dsRNA treatment (Fig. S7). The measured luciferase activity was normalized to total protein concentration. Mean ± standard deviation (n=3) are shown. Asterisks, significant differences of the mean values between two groups. p values were determined using the Student’s t test: *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01