Genome-wide identification and expression analysis of the cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channel (CNGC) gene family in Saccharum spontaneum

Background Cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels (CNGCs) are nonselective cation channels that are ubiquitous in eukaryotic organisms. As Ca 2+ channels, some CNGCs have also proven to be K + -permeable and involved in plant development and responses to environmental stimuli. Sugarcane is an important sugar and energy crop worldwide. However, reports on CNGC genes in sugarcane are limited. Results In this study, 16 CNGC genes and their alleles were identified from Saccharum spontaneum and classified into 5 groups based on phylogenetic analysis. Investigation of gene duplication and syntenic relationships between S . spontaneum and both rice and Arabidopsis demonstrated that the CNGC gene family in S. spontaneum expanded primarily by segmental duplication events. Many SsCNGC s showed variable expression during growth and development as well as in tissues, suggesting functional divergence. Light-responsive cis -acting elements were discovered in the promoters of all the identified SsCNGC s, and the expression of most of the SsCNGC s showed a diurnal rhythm. In sugarcane, the expression of some SsCNGC s was regulated by low-K + treatment. Notably, SsCNGC13 may be involved in both sugarcane development and its response to environmental stimuli, including response to low-K + stress. Conclusion This study identified the CNGC genes in S . spontaneum and provided insights into the transcriptional regulation of these SsCNGC s during development, circadian rhythm and under low-K + stress. These findings lay a theoretical foundation for future investigations of the CNGC gene family in sugarcane.