Potential use of the Pteris vittata arsenic hyperaccumulation-regulation network for phytoremediation

[Display omitted] •The first full-length Pteris vittata transcriptomic–tonoplast proteomic database is presented.•Major transporter families, e.g., ACR3, MFS, ABC, MIP, P-type ATPase, and NRT3.1b, are identified.•Misfolded protein degradation and complexation are identified as arsenic resistance pathways.•Putative roles of long non-coding RNA and alternative splicing in hyperaccumulation regulation are identified.•An arsenic hyperaccumulation-regulation network for use in phytoremediation is developed. Arsenic accumulation in soil is a global problem typically addressed using phytoremediation methods. Pteris vittata, a model arsenic hyperaccumulator, has great potential as a genetically engineered plant for phytoremediation. However, the lack of omic information on this species has severely limited the identification and application of its arsenic hyperaccumulation and regulation components. In this study, we used an optimized single-molecular real-time (SMRT) strategy to create a de novo full-length transcriptomic–tonoplast proteomic database for this unsequenced fern and to determine the genetic components underlying its arsenic hyperaccumulation-regulation mechanisms. We established a comprehensive network consisting of six major transporter families, two novel resistance pathways, and a regulatory system by examining alternative splicing (AS) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in different tissues following As(III) and As(V) treatment. The database and network established in this study will deepen our understanding of the unique hyperaccumulation and regulation mechanisms of P. vittata, ultimately providing a valuable resource for futher research on phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated soil.