Fig. 5. Reduced AtCAP-E1 and AtCAP-E2 levels correlate with developmental defects. (A-C) RT-PCR analysis of SMC2 expression in wild type and three representative antisense lines, 7, 13 and 14. (A,B) RNA was prepared from 7-day-old seedlings and subjected to RT-PCR with the same primers that were used for gene expression RT-PCR. Note that expression is high in wild-type seedlings, but dramatically reduced in the three antisense lines. (B) CAPS analysis (see Fig. 2B and the Methods) of the total RT-PCR pool, illustrating that both genes are affected by the antisense strategy. (C) The same RNA samples used in A and B were subjected to RT-PCR with primers for an actin gene, which served as an internal control for mRNA abundance in each of the samples. (D-K) Developmental defects in the T2 generation of antisense plants. (D) A wild-type Arabidopsis seedling at 12 days after germination. (E) A 12-day old antisense seedling exhibiting the severe phenotype where the SAM has failed to initiate any true leaves (c, cotyledons). (F) An 18-day-old antisense plant, illustrating the enlarged and degenerating SAM (white arrow) and an emerging axillary bud (black arrow). (G) Elongated leaf-like structures (arrows) initiated by an enlarged 18-day-old SAM. (H) Stem bifurcation (arrow) associated with fasciation. (I) Altered phyllotaxy of cauline leaves. (J,K) Stem and floral fasciation observed in E1^+/-E2^-/- plants.

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