The role of phytochelatins in arsenic tolerance in the hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata

•  Pteris vittata was the first identified arsenic (As) hyperaccumulator. Here we investigated whether phytochelatins (PCs) are involved in the hypertolerance of arsenic by P. vittata. •  P. vittata was exposed to 0-500 µm arsenate for 5 d, or to 50 µm arsenate for 0-7 d. In addition, l-buthionine-sulphoximine (BSO), an inhibitor of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, was used in combination with different arsenate exposures. The relationships between As accumulation and the concentrations of PCs and glutathione (GSH) were examined. •  PC synthesis was induced upon exposure to arsenate in P. vittata, with only PC₂ detected in the plant. The As concentration correlated significantly with PC₂ concentration in both roots and shoots, but not with GSH. The molar ratio of PC-SH to As was c. 0.09 and 0.03 for shoots and roots, respectively, suggesting that only a small proportion (1-3%) of the As in P. vittata can be complexed with PCs. In the presence of arsenate, addition of BSO decreased PC₂ concentrations in roots and shoots by 89-96% and 30-33%, respectively. BSO alone was found to inhibit root growth of P. vittata markedly. •  The results suggest that PCs play a limited role in the hypertolerance of As in P. vittata.