Glutathione S Transferase Pi (GSTp)

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are a family of enzymes that play an important role in detoxification by catalyzing the conjugation of many hydrophobic and electrophilic compounds with reduced glutathione. Based on their biochemical, immunologic, and structural properties, the soluble GSTs are categorized into 4 main classes: alpha, mu, pi, and theta. The glutathione S-transferase pi gene (GSTP1) is a polymorphic gene encoding active, functionally different GSTP1 variant proteins that are thought to function in xenobiotic metabolism and play a role in susceptibility to cancer, and other diseases.The predicted 209-amino acid protein shares 86% sequence identity with GSTP. However, GST-pi has a pI of 5.5, while that of GSTP is 6.9. Northern hybridization revealed that GST-pi is expressed as a 750-nucleotide mRNA in liver.