Transcriptome and proteome analyses reveal selenium mediated amelioration of arsenic toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa L.).

• RNA Seq. and protein profiling presented new dimensions of Se mediated As tolerance. • Se ameliorated As toxicity by modulating Lsi1, NIP1;1, NRAMP and ABCG transporters. • Up-regulation of GST, PRX, GRX and HSPs suggested amelioration of oxidative stress. • Se provided As tolerance through TFs e.g. , MYB, WRKY, AUX/IAA responsiveness. • Omics approaches established comprehensive verification of As-Se responsive proteins. Arsenic (As), a chronic poison and non-threshold carcinogen, is a food chain contaminant in rice, posing yield losses as well as serious health risks. Selenium (Se), a trace element, is a known antagonist of As toxicity. In present study, RNA seq. and proteome profiling, along with morphological analyses were performed to explore molecular cross-talk involved in Se mediated As stress amelioration. The repair of As induced structural deformities involving disintegration of cell wall and membranes were observed upon Se supplementation. The expression of As transporter genes viz., NIP1;1, NIP2;1, ABCG5, NRAMP1, NRAMP5, TIP2;2 as well as sulfate transporters, SULTR3;1 and SULTR3;6, were higher in As + Se compared to As alone exposure, which resulted in reduced As accumulation and toxicity. The higher expression of regulatory elements like AUX/IAA, WRKY and MYB TFs during As + Se exposure was also observed. The up-regulation of GST, PRX and GRX during As + Se exposure confirmed the amelioration of As induced oxidative stress. The abundance of proteins involved in photosynthesis, energy metabolism, transport, signaling and ROS homeostasis were found higher in As + Se than in As alone exposure. Overall, present study identified Se responsive pathways, genes and proteins involved to cope-up with As toxicity in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]