Detection of dsRNA by Acridine Orange Staining

Acridine orange is a nucleic acid binding dye that emits green fluorescence when bound to double-stranded DNA or RNA and red fluorescence when bound to single-stranded DNA or RNA under ultraviolet light. This unique characterization allows it to be used for distinguishing or visualization of dsRNA. Here, we present a convenient and efficient protocol for detecting dsRNA in polyacrylamide gels.