Effects of PQBP1 and WBP11 knockdown on embryonic gene expression. qPCR performed on early gastrula (stage 10.5) morphant embryos injected bilaterally at the two-cell stage with 150 ng control (CT), 100 ng pqbp1 (PQ), 50 ng wbp11 (BP) or a combination of pqbp1 and wbp11 (PQ+BP) MOs (150 ng total). Values were plotted relative to the control cap signal and shown as mean±s.e.m of n=3 with Student's t-test to control embryos (CT) (*P<0.05 or **P<0.01). (A) Expression of general mesodermal markers brachyury (bra), antipodean (apod), sizzled, wnt8, fgf4, cdx4 and fgf8. (B) Expression of Spemann–Mangold organizer-specific markers, chordin, goosecoid, siamois and noggin. (C) Expression of early neural marker sox2.