PARP-1 inhibits glycolysis in ischemic kidneys

After ischemic renal injury (IRI), selective damage occurs in the S ₃ segments of the proximal tubules as a result of inhibition of glycolysis, but the mechanism of this inhibition is unknown. We previously reported that inhibition of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) activity protects against ischemia-induced necrosis in proximal tubules by preserving ATP levels. Here, we tested whether PARP-1 activation in proximal tubules after IRI leads to poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of the key glycolytic enzyme glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a modification that inhibits its activity. Using in vitro and in vivo models, under hypoxic conditions, we detected poly(ADP-ribosyl)-ation and reduced activity of GAPDH; inhibition of PARP-1 activity restored GAPDH activity and ATP levels. Inhibition of GAPDH with iodoacetate exacerbated ATP depletion, cytotoxicity, and necrotic cell death of LLCPK₁ cells subjected to hypoxic conditions, whereas inhibition of PARP-1 activity was cytoprotective. In conclusion, these data indicate that poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation of GAPDH and the subsequent inhibition of anaerobic respiration exacerbate ATP depletion selectively in the proximal tubule after IRI.