Glutathione S-transferase mu 5（GSTM5) belongs to the glutathione s-transferase（GST) family of proteins. There are 8 families of GST proteins， specifically alpha， kappa， mu， omega， pi， sigma， theta and zeta， each of which is comprised of proteins which have various functions throughout the cell. GSTM5 belongs to the mu class of enzymes which function in the detoxification of electrophilic compounds， including carcinogens， therapeutic drugs， environmental toxins and products of oxidative stress， by conjugation with glutathione. GSTM5 has an imperative role in detoxification. GSTM5 conjugates reduced glutathione to a large number of exogenous and endogenous hydrophobic electrophiles.
