Methylglyoxal (MG) is one of the aldehydes that accumulate in plants under environmental stress. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play important roles, including detoxification, in the stress tolerance systems of plants. To determine the effects of MG, we characterized recombinant GST. MG decreased GST activity and thiol contents with increasing K(m). GST can serve as a target of MG modification, which is suppressed by application of reduced glutathione.