Plant thioredoxins: role of the French School

A seminal discovery made by Pierre Gadal and his collaborators in Nancy, almost 30 years ago, has served as a nucleus for further development of research on plant thioredoxins. By attracting other investigators, research in the area has flourished and enabled France to assume a leadership position in the field. The chronology of development of this research is traced in the present review, from its origin in Nancy to its current distribution throughout France. A summary of the achievements of participating French scientists documents their influence on the field and the international thioredoxin community. The article closes with a personal perspective of Gadal’s scientific and professional contributions that was developed by the senior author during visits to Orsay over the past three decades.