GSTM2 (glutathione S-transferase mu 2) is a phase II detoxification enzyme that conjugates reduced glutathione to hydrophobic electrophiles, playing crucial roles in cellular protection and disease prevention 1. The protein functions through multiple mechanisms: it directly binds to apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) to inhibit its N-terminal dimerization and phosphorylation, thereby suppressing JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathways under metabolic stress 1. GSTM2 also protects against oxidative stress by modulating mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation and is required for efficient hepatocellular carcinoma initiation through inhibition of ferroptosis 23. The gene shows significant disease relevance, as GSTM2 expression is downregulated in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and colon cancer, with lower expression associated with poor prognosis 14. Elevated GSTM2 levels contribute to resistance against second-generation androgen receptor inhibitors in prostate cancer by rescuing cells from oxidative stress and activating p38 MAPK pathways 5. Clinically, GSTM2 represents a potential therapeutic target, as its activation shows promise for NASH treatment, and it serves as a prognostic biomarker in colon cancer 14. The enzyme is inducible by butyrate in colon cells, suggesting dietary fiber fermentation products may enhance cellular detoxification capacity 6.