Interestingly, AtMFT is also likely to function parallel to the ABA and GA response pathways in Deltamethrin promoting dormancy during seed development, implying there is a possibility that GmMFT and AtMFT share a similar pathway to inhibit germination in after-ripened seeds and to promote dormancy in freshly matured seeds, respectively. To illuminate the functional variation of MFT-like genes in control of seed germination, the protein sequence of GmMFT, TaMFT and AtMFT were analyzed. We found that GmMFT shared some identical amino acid residues with TaMFT, but different from those in AtMFT, which may be the mutations accumulated evolutionally from the ancestor MFT and beneficial to down-regulate seed germination. In addition, the Nterminal extension of GmMFT may also confer its function opposite to that of AtMFT, even though it did not affect the protein subcellular localization. Detailed sequence shift and residue-substitution experiments among GmMFT, AtMFT, and TaMFT will be helpful to prove these speculations. Our results showed that GmMFT may be a negative regulator of seed germination. But strictly speaking, we have no direct evidence to demonstrate that GmMFT is involved in the regulation of seed germination in soybean due to the limitations of the experimental system. Thus, further research on gain-of-function and loss-of-function of GmMFT in soybean should be needed to study the GmMFT real function. To assure correct segregation of genetic materials into daughter cells, eukaryotic cells employ the SAC mechanism to prevent premature metaphase-anaphase transition until all chromosomes successfully attach to the bipolar spindle with proper tension. SAC consists of ��sensor�� Chromeceptin proteins such as Mad1, Bub1 and Mps1; a ��signal transducer��, consisting of the mitotic checkpoint complex, composed of Mad2, Bub3, BubR1 and Cdc20; and an ��effector�� known as the anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome. Prior to metaphase-anaphase transition, SAC inhibits the ability of Cdc20 to activate the APC/C which stabilizes securin and cyclin B, thus the metaphase-anaphase transition is delayed until all chromosomes establish the correct attachment to the spindle. Once the correct attachment has been established, SAC is inactivated and APC/C-Cdc20 ubiquitinates securin and cyclin B, resulting in the activation of separase. Separase removes the cohesion complex holding sister chromatids together so that the cells can enter anaphase.