Reactive carbonyl species: Their production from lipid peroxides, action in environmental stress, and the detoxification mechanism

► Reactive carbonyl species (RCS), products of lipid peroxides, are strong cytotoxins. ► Multiple enzymes altogether contribute to the detoxification of vast variety of RCS. ► RCS-detoxifying enzymes protects plants from various environmental stresses. ► RCS occur at μM levels in cells, and may rise to sub-mM under environmental stress. ► Limited number of proteins/enzymes are sensitively modified and inactivated by RCS.