Fig. 3: In vivo functional verification of ScTg-like in S. clava larvae.

a Workflow of gene knockdown experiment in S. clava larva. The concentrations of siRNAs are 0.4 μM. b Quantifications of ScTg-like mRNA expression in gene knockdown (siRNA-1 and siRNA-2, two specific siRNAs of ScTg-like are designed to treat the S. clava larvae respectively), negative control siRNA treatment (NC, as the negative control), and filtered seawater treatment (FSW, as the blank control) groups through RT-qPCR method. n = 200 larvae for per independent experiment in each group. c-d Quantification of T4 (c) and T3 (d) levels in gene knockdown (siRNA-1 and siRNA-2), MMI treatment (MMI, as the positive control, 120 mg/L), NC, and FSW groups. n = 200 larvae for per independent experiment in each group. e Phenotypes of S. clava larvae in gene knockdown (siRNA-1 and siRNA-2), MMI, NC, and FSW groups. The fraction showed on each image indicates the number of S. clava with the phenotypes showed in the image / total number of S. clava in each experimental group. Scale bars = 50 μm. f Statistical results of tail regressed larvae in (e). g Workflow of gene knockdown and rescue experiment in S. clava larva. The concentrations of siRNAs are 0.4 μM. The concentration of T3 for rescue is 50 μg/mL. h Phenotypes of S. clava larvae gene knockdown (siRNA-1 and siRNA-2), rescue (siRNA treatment + T3 rescue), NC, and FSW groups. The fraction showed on each image indicates the number of S. clava with the phenotypes showed in the image / total number of S. clava in each experimental group. Scale bars = 50 μm. i Statistical results of tail regressed larvae in (h). All experiments in this figure were performed with at least three biological replicates. Values are presented as mean ± SEM, and statistical significance was assessed using two-tailed t-test. Source data related to this figure are provided as a Source Data file.