Ubiquitously distributed multifunctional superfamily of Glutathione Stransferases (GST) generally constitute a dimeric enzymes and catalyse the conjugation of the thiol group of the glutathione (GSH) to diverse electrophilic centres on lipophilic molecules with the formation of rather less active end products. Besides their well investigated conjugation reaction for the detoxification of endogenous and xenobiotic compounds, they can also be involved in both GSH dependent peroxidation or isomerization reactions, and several other non-catalytic functions, like binding of non-substrate ligands, stress-induced signalling processes and preventing of apoptosis. Plant GSTs have been a focus of attention because of their roles in herbicide detoxification and today seven distinct classes of soluble (cytosolic) GSTs are presented as Phi, Tau, Theta, Zeta, Lambda, Dehydroascorbate reductases (DHARs) and Tetrachlorohydroquinone dehalogenase (TCHQD). While GSTs show overall sequence diversification within and between classes, they retain a high level of three-dimensional structure conservation over long evolutionary periods. In this review mainly the soluble plant GSTs will be considered by giving attention to their structures, subcellular localizations, genomic organizations, catalytic/noncatalytic functions, and comparisons given with respect to their mammalian counterparts where necessary.

Determining the origins of heavy metals, their accumulation, and their detoxification mechanisms constitutes a major problem in understanding environmental pollution in urban areas. The objective of this study was to detect the relative air quality in Eskisehir city center (Turkey) through the transplanted epiphytic lichen Pseudovernia furfuracea as a biomonitor of the concentrations of some heavy metals accumulated and to describe their toxic effects on lichen physiology during the study period of one year. The influence of heavy metal accumulations on macroelement levels were also examined. In addition to analysis of B, K, Ca, P, S, Al, Fe, Mg, Mn, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Cu, total soluble proteins and oxidative stress parameters through glutathione (GSH) contents and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities were also determined. Results indicate that, although the heavy metal concentrations were found to be gradually increased from the unpolluted control zone to the city center, the concentrations of macroelements S and Ca were higher in the polluted area. However, B, K, Mg, and P elements were found to be higher in the unpolluted area than in the polluted zones. It seems that heavy metals induce oxidative stress in lichens; we found enhancement of GSH concentrations and GST activity. Most probably, the expected destruction in this organism was reduced by the intervention of antioxidant capacity. Therefore, this report confirms the fact that the epiphytic lichen P. furfuracea is a good model for biomonitoring atmospheric quality for a long-term transplantation study, and oxidative stress parameters stand out as a tool for an early environment assessment of other physiological parameters.

The effectiveness of 10 Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) genotypes (viz. Agrani, BTO, Kranti, Pusa Bahar, Pusa Basant, Pusa Bold, Pusa Jai Kisan, Vaibhav, Vardhan, and Varuna) were evaluated for their potential to phytoremediate copper from contaminated waters under laboratory controlled conditions. The genotypes were grown for 20 days in aqueous solutions containing various concentrations of copper sulfate (0–50 µM) in a hydroponic chamber. Throughout plant development, changes in growth variables, biomass accumulation, and total Cu content were evaluated. The results suggested that Indian mustard cv. Pusa Jai Kisan possesses the best capacities of Cu sequestration and tolerance amongst all the genotypes studied. Thus, Pusa Jai Kisan has the greatest potential to become a viable candidate in the development of practical phytoremediation technologies for Cu contaminated sites.