Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of C3H Zinc Finger Family in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)

Abstract

Transcription factors containing a CCCH structure (C3H) play important roles in plant growth and development, and their stress response, but research on the <i>C3H</i> gene family in potato has not been reported yet. In this study, we used bioinformatics to identify 50 <i>C3H</i> genes in potato and named them <i>StC3H-1</i> to <i>StC3H-50</i> according to their location on chromosomes, and we analyzed their physical and chemical properties, chromosome location, phylogenetic relationship, gene structure, collinearity relationship, and cis-regulatory element. The gene expression pattern analysis showed that many <i>StC3H</i> genes are involved in potato growth and development, and their response to diverse environmental stresses. Furthermore, RT-qPCR data showed that the expression of many <i>StC3H</i> genes was induced by high temperatures, indicating that <i>StC3H</i> genes may play important roles in potato response to heat stress. In addition, Some <i>StC3H</i> genes were predominantly expressed in the stolon and developing tubers, suggesting that these <i>StC3H</i> genes may be involved in the regulation of tuber development. Together, these results provide new information on <i>StC3H</i> genes and will be helpful for further revealing the function of <i>StC3H</i> genes in the heat stress response and tuber development in potato.