Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) function to conjugate reduced glutathione to many exogenous and endogenous hydrophobic electrophiles. Although it shares the carboxy and amino-terminal glutathione S-transferase domains, GDAP1 is characterized as a GST-like protein because it contains an extended GST domain II and a predicted transmembrane domain, two characteristics which are unusual for GST family members. GDAP1 may function in a signal transduction pathway that is responsible for ganglioside-induced neurite differentiation and also may play a role in protecting myelin membranes from free-radical damage. Mutations in the gene encoding GDAP1 is the cause of many forms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a common inherited disorder of the peripheral nervous system that is characterized by reduced nerve conduction velocities, slow progressive distal muscle atrophy and absent deep tendon reflexes.