INVITED COMMENTARY POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE SUPERGENE FAMILY TO RESISTANCE TO OXIDATIVE STRESS

The glutathione S-transferase (GST) supergene family comprises gene fa milies that encode isoenzymes that are widely expressed in mammalian t issue cytosols and membranes. Both cytosolic (particularly the isoenzy mes encoded by the alpha, mu and theta gene families) and microsomal G ST catalyse the conjugation of reduced glutathione (GSH) with a wide v ariety of electrophiles which include known carcinogens as well as var ious compounds that are products of oxidative stress including oxidise d DNA and lipid. Indeed, several lines of evidence suggest certain of these isoenzymes play a pivotal role in protecting cells from the cons equences of such stress. An assessment of the importance of these GST in humans is presently difficult however, because the number of alpha and theta class genes is not known and, the catalytic preferences of e ven identified isoforms is not always clear.