Glyoxalase System and Reactive Oxygen Species Detoxification System in Plant Abiotic Stress Response and Tolerance: An Intimate Relationship

Abiotic Stress in Plants -Mechanisms and Adaptations 236 and non-enzymatic scavenging pathways or detoxification systems which function as an extremely efficient cooperative system to counter the deleterious effects of ROS and MG as well as to perform their signaling function. In plants, MG is detoxified mainly via the glyoxalase system. Besides detoxification of MG, the glyoxalase system could also play a role in oxidative stress tolerance by recycling reduced glutathione (GSH) that would be trapped nonenzymatically by MG to form hemithioacetal, thereby maintaining glutathione homeostasis. In addition, ROS levels are controlled via a versatile antioxidant network in plants. The specific interplay between ROS and components of the antioxidant and glyoxalase pathways could generate compartment-specific changes in both the absolute concentrations…