THE FUNCTIONS AND REGULATION OF GLUTATHIONE S-TRANSFERASES IN PLANTS

TLDR

Glutathione S‑transferases in plants mediate both normal metabolism and detoxification of diverse xenobiotics, including herbicides, and are implicated in stress responses to pathogens, oxidative stress, heavy metals, auxin signaling, and secondary metabolite synthesis. This review surveys the current knowledge of GST functions concerning herbicides and endogenous substrates. The review discusses the catalytic mechanism of GST activity and the subsequent fate of glutathione S‑conjugates. It summarizes what is known about the gene structure and regulation of plant GSTs.

Abstract

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play roles in both normal cellular metabolism as well as in the detoxification of a wide variety of xenobiotic compounds, and they have been intensively studied with regard to herbicide detoxification in plants. A newly discovered plant GST subclass has been implicated in numerous stress responses, including those arising from pathogen attack, oxidative stress, and heavy-metal toxicity. In addition, plant GSTs play a role in the cellular response to auxins and during the normal metabolism of plant secondary products like anthocyanins and cinnamic acid. This review presents the current knowledge about the functions of GSTs in regard to both herbicides and endogenous substrates. The catalytic mechanism of GST activity as well as the fate of glutathione S-conjugates are reviewed. Finally, a summary of what is known about the gene structure and regulation of plant GSTs is presented.