GLOD4 (glyoxalase domain containing 4) is a glyoxalase family member localized to mitochondria 1 with emerging roles in neurodegenerative disease. Originally identified as C17orf25 on chromosome 17.3 2, GLOD4 was relatively uncharacterized until recent discoveries revealed its enzymatic function. GLOD4 catalyzes selective peroxynitrite-mediated protein tyrosine nitration 3, with alpha-synuclein serving as a primary in vivo target, implicating GLOD4 in Parkinson's disease pathogenesis 3. Additionally, GLOD4 is associated with Alzheimer's disease; GLOD4 expression is downregulated in AD patient brains and transgenic AD mouse models, and GLOD4 depletion impairs autophagy while elevating amyloid-β accumulation 4. GLOD4 also participates in ciliogenesis and cell-cycle regulation, as knockdown affects cilia assembly and cell-cycle progression in retinal epithelial cells 5. Consistent with glyoxalase family functions in detoxifying reactive dicarbonyls, GLOD4 likely contributes to cellular homeostasis 6, with dysregulation implicated in retinal degeneration 7. These findings position GLOD4 as a multifunctional protein relevant to neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases.