Characteristics of INNER NO OUTER Homologous Genes in Wild Tomato Species

Abstract

INNER NO OUTER belongs to the YABBY transcription factor family and determines the abaxial identity of the outer ovule integument. In this study, complete genomic INO sequences were identified and characterized in 12 accessions of 11 tomato species (Solanum section Lycopersicon). It was shown that the identified INO genes encode proteins with the conserved zinc finger and YABBY domains. The INO sequences of all analyzed tomato species contain 243 (12.9% of the aligned length) variable sites, 43 of which are exon-specific and include 22 nonsynonymous SNPs leading to amino acid residue substitutions in zinc finger domain (10), YABBY domain (2), and interdomain regions (10). A deletion of 10 aa at the C-terminal interdomain sequence is characteristic of the S. arcanum INO.