Abstract: Oxidative stress in plants induces several antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (APX, EC 1.11.1.11), catalase (CAT, E. C.1.11.1.6) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX, EC1.11.1.9), which have specific roles in scavenging reactive oxygen species. Glutathione peroxidases are a family of key enzymes involved in scavenging oxyradicals in animals. Only recently has evidence for the existence of this enzyme in plants been reported. However, the information about the function of plant GPXs is limited, according to our current knowledge. The paper reviews the structure of GPXs and the progress of plant GPXs.

Key words: Oxidative stress, Glutathione peroxidase, Phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPX)