Methylglyoxalase that converts methylglyoxal to D-lactate; involved in oxidative stress resistance, diauxic shift, and stationary phase survival; has similarity to E. coli Hsp31 and C. albicans Glx3p; member of the DJ-1/ThiJ/PfpI superfamily, which includes human DJ-1 involved in Parkinson's disease and cancer; exists as a dimer and contains a putative metal-binding site; protein abundance increases in response to DNA replication stress