Unease on the role of glyoxalase 1 in high-anxiety-related behaviour

Overexpression and silencing of glyoxalase 1 (Glo1) in brains of mice and behavioural analyses have suggested a link between Glo1 and anxiety, making Glo1 a possible novel target for anxiolytic-drug development. However, this finding is discordant with others, and further research at metabolic level, particularly glycation of neuronal proteins by dicarbonyl substrates of Glo1, is required. Therefore, it remains to be established whether Glo1 is a risk marker or a risk factor of increased anxiety, how applicable the association between Glo1 and anxiety is and whether it can be translated into clinical diagnostic and therapeutic applications.