Fig. 7. Depletion of PouV proteins produces a heightened activin response in animal cap explants. (A) Real-time RT-PCR analysis of XlpouV protein-depleted animal cap explants. Embryos were injected with control MO or XlpouV MO as above. Animal cap explants were isolated at stage 8 and cultured with or without activin until sibling embryos reached stage 10.25. Relative expression represents values normalized to Odc. 16 U/ml activin was used for induction apart from the Xbra and Bmp4 analysis that used 8 U/ml activin. Experiments were carried out in triplicate. (B) Embryos were injected with control MO or XlpouV MO as above and animal caps explants isolated and induced with either 8 U/ml or 16 U/ml activin. Relative expression represents the Gsc and cerberus values normalized to Odc. Experiments were carried out in triplicate.