Abstract
The glutathione S-transferases (GST) are a supergene family of dimeric, enzymes that catalyse the conjugation of
glutathione (GSH) to a variety of electrophiles including arene oxides, unsaturated carbonyls, organic halides and
other substrates. Their importance is suggested by the finding that GST enzymes are expressed in probably all life
forms. In humans, polymorphism in GST genes has been associated with susceptibility to various diseases though
some recent data indicate that these genotypes modify disease phenotype. Thus, GST genotypes alone and in
combination have been linked with clinical outcome. © 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.