| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>The glutathione <it>S</it>-transferase (<it>GST</it>) gene family encodes genes that are critical for certain life processes, as well as for detoxication and toxification mechanisms, via conjugation of reduced glutathione (GSH) with numerous substrates such as pharmaceuticals and environmental pollutants. The <it>GST </it>genes are upregulated in response to oxidative stress and are inexplicably overexpressed in many tumours, leading to problems during cancer chemotherapy. An analysis of the <it>GST </it>gene family in the Human Genome Organization-sponsored Human Gene Nomenclature Committee database showed 21 putatively functional genes. Upon closer examination, however, GST-kappa 1 (<it>GSTK1</it>), prostaglandin E synthase (<it>PTGES</it>) and three microsomal GSTs (<it>MGST1, MGST2, MGST3</it>) were determined as encoding membrane-bound enzymes having GST-like activity, but these genes are not evolutionarily related to the <it>GST </it>gene family. It is concluded that the complete <it>GST </it>gene family comprises 16 genes in six subfamilies -- alpha (<it>GSTA</it>), mu (<it>GSTM</it>), omega (<it>GSTO</it>), pi (<it>GSTP</it>), theta (<it>GSTT</it>) and zeta (<it>GSTZ</it>).</p>
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