Open Access

REVIEW

The Role of Glutathione S-Transferase in the Regulation of Plant Growth, and Responses to Environmental Stresses

Chen Lin^1,*, Zidan Zhang¹, Zhao Zhang¹, Yuxiang Long¹, Xuwen Shen¹, Jinghao Zhang¹, Youping Wang^1,2,*

1 Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics of the Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
2 Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Crop Genomics and Molecular Breeding, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China

* Corresponding Authors: Chen Lin. Email: ; Youping Wang. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Plant and Environments)

Phyton-International Journal of Experimental Botany 2025, 94(3), 583-601. https://doi.org/10.32604/phyton.2025.063086

Received 04 January 2025; Accepted 26 February 2025; Issue published 31 March 2025

Abstract

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) represent a large and diverse enzyme family ubiquitously distributed across the plant kingdom. These proteins catalyze the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) with electrophilic substrates in response to various stress conditions. Beyond their role in stress adaptation, certain GSTs are integral regulators of plant growth and development, contributing to a range of physiological processes. Most GST proteins exhibit dual enzymatic activities, functioning as both transferases and peroxidases, which enables their involvement in diverse cellular processes, including detoxification and stress responses. Recent advancements, particularly in X-ray crystallography, have enabled detailed structural analysis of GST proteins, significantly enhancing our understanding of their biological functions. This review offers a comprehensive overview of the classification and structural characteristics of GSTs in plants. It also highlights recent findings on their roles in plant growth and development, cell signaling, catalytic transport, and stress tolerance. Furthermore, key scientific challenges related to GSTs are discussed, focusing on their potential applications in agriculture. These insights aim to facilitate the screening of functional GST genes and support molecular breeding efforts across diverse crop species.

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Keywords

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