Genome-wide analysis of glyoxalase-like gene families in grape (Vitis vinifera L.) and their expression profiling in response to downy mildew infection

The glyoxalase system usually comprises two enzymes, glyoxalase I (GLYI) and glyoxalase II (GLYII). This system converts cytotoxic methylglyoxal (MG) into non-toxic D-lactate in the presence of reduced glutathione (GSH) in two enzymatic steps. Recently, a novel type of glyoxalase III (GLYIII) activity has observed in Escherichia coli that can detoxify MG into D-lactate directly, in one step, without a cofactor.