# Genome-Wide Identification and Functional Analysis of the CNGC Gene Family in Suaeda glauca

## TL;DR

This study identifies and analyzes 44 CNGC genes in Suaeda glauca, revealing one gene that may reduce salt tolerance, offering insights for improving crops in saline soils.

## Contribution

The study provides a genome-wide analysis of the CNGC gene family in Suaeda glauca and identifies a gene with a negative regulatory role in salt tolerance.

## Key findings

- 44 CNGC genes were identified in Suaeda glauca, showing structural and functional divergence.
- Overexpression of SgCNGC13 in Arabidopsis increased salt sensitivity, indicating a negative regulatory role.
- The study reveals evolutionary conservation and functional diversity of the CNGC gene family in S. glauca.

## Abstract

Soil salinization is a growing problem that is harming agriculture and the environment. Suaeda glauca is a plant that grows in saline–alkali land, but the genetic regulatory mechanisms underlying its salt tolerance are not fully understood. This study explores a family of genes, Cyclic nucleotide-gated channel genes, that play key roles in helping plants cope with stress. A total of 44 members of this gene family were identified in Suaeda glauca, and their characteristics were analyzed. We found that when the expression of one gene was significantly increased in Suaeda glauca, the plant became more sensitive to salt, suggesting that this gene may negatively regulate salt tolerance, which provides a basis for understanding how the plant survives in high-salt environments. In the future, these findings may help scientists develop new crop varieties that are better suited to growing in saline–alkali soils, aiding in food security and the restoration of degraded lands.

Cyclic nucleotide-gated channel (CNGC) genes play key regulatory roles in plant immunity and abiotic stress responses. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide identification and analysis of the CNGC gene family in Suaeda glauca. A total of 44 SgCNGC genes were identified. Through phylogenetic analysis, gene structure analysis, chromosome distribution, conserved motif analysis, collinearity analysis, cis-acting element analysis, subcellular localization, and gene overexpression analysis, we systematically characterized the evolutionary relationships, structural features, and potential functions of this gene family. The results indicate that the SgCNGC gene family is evolutionarily highly conserved but exhibits functional divergence in structure and expression. Furthermore, functional assays revealed that overexpression of SgCNGC13 in Arabidopsis thaliana led to increased salt sensitivity, indicating a negative regulatory role for this gene under salt stress. These findings provide a foundation for understanding the role of the CNGC gene family in the growth, development, and stress response of S. glauca and contribute to the remediation of saline–alkali land.