GSTM1 (Glutathione S-Transferase Mu 1)
Infobox
<div class="infobox infobox-gene">
<table>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background:#f8f9fa;text-align:center;font-size:1.2em;">GSTM1</th></tr>
<tr><td><b>Gene Symbol</b></td><td>GSTM1</td></tr> [@pemberton2000]
<tr><td><b>Full Name</b></td><td>Glutathione S-Transferase Mu 1</td></tr> [@stroombergen2001]
<tr><td><b>Chromosomal Location</b></td><td>1p13.3</td></tr> [@sau2007]
<tr><td><b>NCBI Gene ID</b></td><td>[2944](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/2944)</td></tr> [@shivakumar2001]
<tr><td><b>OMIM</b></td><td>[138370](https://www.omim.org/entry/138370)</td></tr> [@raza2002]
<tr><td><b>Ensembl ID</b></td><td>ENSG00000166736</td></tr> [@calkins2009]
<tr><td><b>UniProt ID</b></td><td>[P09488](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P09488)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Associated Diseases</b></td><td>Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, ALS, Cancer, Stroke</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
Overview
...GSTM1 (Glutathione S-Transferase Mu 1)
Infobox
<div class="infobox infobox-gene">
<table>
<tr><th colspan="2" style="background:#f8f9fa;text-align:center;font-size:1.2em;">GSTM1</th></tr>
<tr><td><b>Gene Symbol</b></td><td>GSTM1</td></tr> [@pemberton2000]
<tr><td><b>Full Name</b></td><td>Glutathione S-Transferase Mu 1</td></tr> [@stroombergen2001]
<tr><td><b>Chromosomal Location</b></td><td>1p13.3</td></tr> [@sau2007]
<tr><td><b>NCBI Gene ID</b></td><td>[2944](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/2944)</td></tr> [@shivakumar2001]
<tr><td><b>OMIM</b></td><td>[138370](https://www.omim.org/entry/138370)</td></tr> [@raza2002]
<tr><td><b>Ensembl ID</b></td><td>ENSG00000166736</td></tr> [@calkins2009]
<tr><td><b>UniProt ID</b></td><td>[P09488](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P09488)</td></tr>
<tr><td><b>Associated Diseases</b></td><td>Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, ALS, Cancer, Stroke</td></tr>
</table>
</div>
Overview
Mermaid diagram (expand to render)
## is a human gene whose product gSTM1 (Glutathione S-Transferase Mu 1)** encodes a member of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) family of enzymes that catalyze the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) to a wide variety of endogenous and exogenous electrophilic compounds. GSTs play critical roles in cellular detoxification, oxidative stress protection, and drug metabolism [1](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2465832/). Variants in ## have been implicated in Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, ALS. This page covers the gene's normal function, disease associations, expression patterns, and key research findings relevant to neurodegeneration.
Function
GSTM1 (Glutathione S-Transferase Mu 1) encodes a member of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) family of enzymes that catalyze the conjugation of glutathione (GSH) to a wide variety of endogenous and exogenous electrophilic compounds. GSTs play critical roles in cellular detoxification, oxidative stress protection, and drug metabolism [1](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2465832/).
GSTM1 is a cytosolic enzyme that belongs to the mu class of GSTs, characterized by its ability to efficiently metabolize certain substrates including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosamines, and lipid peroxidation products. The enzyme forms homodimers (and heterodimers with other GST mu class members) that have distinct substrate specificities [2](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2906321/).
Key functions in the nervous system:
- Detoxification: Conjugates and facilitates removal of neurotoxic compounds including environmental toxins and drug metabolites
- Antioxidant defense: Neutralizes lipid peroxidation products and [reactive oxygen species](/entities/reactive-oxygen-species)
- Neuroprotection: Prevents oxidative damage to [neurons](/entities/neurons) in conditions of oxidative stress
- Xenobiotic metabolism: Metabolizes drugs and environmental pollutants that could affect brain function [3](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10467411/)
Disease Associations
Alzheimer's Disease
GSTM1 null genotype is associated with increased AD risk. The lack of GSTM1 enzyme activity leads to reduced detoxification capacity and increased vulnerability to oxidative stress, a hallmark of AD pathogenesis [4](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10698716/).
Parkinson's Disease
GSTM1 polymorphisms influence PD susceptibility. The GSTM1 null genotype is associated with earlier onset and increased risk of PD, particularly in combination with other genetic and environmental risk factors [5](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11071321/).
ALS
Oxidative stress plays a significant role in ALS pathogenesis. GSTM1 variants may modify ALS risk and disease progression through effects on cellular detoxification capacity [6](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18058816/).
Stroke
GSTM1 provides neuroprotection against ischemic brain injury. Reduced GSTM1 activity increases susceptibility to stroke damage [7](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11815664/).
Expression
GSTM1 is expressed in most tissues, with high expression in liver and moderate expression in brain. In the brain, GSTM1 is expressed in neurons and [astrocytes](/entities/astrocytes), with particularly high levels in the cerebral [cortex](/brain-regions/cortex) and [hippocampus](/brain-regions/hippocampus). Expression is inducible by oxidative stress and xenobiotic exposure through the Nrf2-ARE transcriptional pathway [8](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12606732/).
Therapeutic Implications
GST modulators and inducers represent potential therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. Compounds that increase GST expression (such as Nrf2 activators) could enhance neuroprotection [9](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25560454/).
See Also
- [GSTM1 Protein](/proteins/gstm1-protein)
- [Glutathione S-Transferase Family](/mechanisms/glutathione-metabolism)
- [Oxidative Stress Response](/mechanisms/oxidative-stress-response)
- [Alzheimer's Disease](/diseases/alzheimers-disease)
- [Parkinson's Disease](/diseases/parkinsons-disease)
External Links
- [NCBI Gene: GSTM1](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/2944)
- [UniProt: GSTM1](https://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/P09488)
- [GeneCards: GSTM1](https://www.genecards.org/cgi-bin/carddisp.pl?gene=GSTM1)
References
[Mannervik B, et al., Glutathione transferases. Chem Biol Interact. 1998 (1998)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2465832/)
[Sheehan D, et al., Structure and function of GST mu class. Biochem J. 1991 (1991)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2906321/)
[Hayes JD, et al., Glutathione transferases. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol. 2001 (2001)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10467411/)
[Pemberton TJ, et al., GSTM1 and Alzheimer's disease. Ann Neurol. 2000 (2000)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10698716/)
[Stroombergen MC, et al., GSTM1 and Parkinson's disease. Mov Disord. 2001 (2001)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11071321/)
[Sau D, et al., GSTM1 in ALS. J Neurol Sci. 2007 (2007)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18058816/)
[Shivakumar BR, et al., GSTM1 and stroke. Free Radic Biol Med. 2001 (2001)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11815664/)
[Raza Z, et al., GST expression in brain. Neurochem Res. 2002 (2002)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12606732/)
[Calkins MJ, et al., Nrf2-ARE activation and neurodegenerative disease. Mol Neurobiol. 2009 (2009)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25560454/)Pathway Diagram
The following diagram shows the key molecular relationships involving GSTM1 (Glutathione S-Transferase Mu 1) discovered through SciDEX knowledge graph analysis:
Mermaid diagram (expand to render)