Homeotic MADS-box genes encoding LeMADS-MC orthologues in wild tomato species (genus Solanum)

New full-length genes encoding the LeMADS-MC transcription factor orthologues were identified and functionally characterized in wild tomato species S. cheesmaniae and S. habrochaites. A comparative analysis of the encoded proteins and LeMADS-MC of the cultivated tomato species S. lycopersicum revealed two major amino acid residues substitutions: V155E in the K-domain of ShaMADS-MC (S. habrochaites) and S80L in the I-region of SchMADS-MC (S. cheesmaniae). Structural differences of the C-terminal regions of MC and the canonical euAP1 proteins indicate possible chromosomal rearrangements in the Solanoideae subfamily, which, however, did not change the main known conserved euAP1 functions.