OBJECTIVE-Mitochondrial superoxide levels are elevated in the retina in diabetes, and manganese superoxide dismutase overexpression prevents the development of retinopathy. Superoxide inhibits glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), which activates major pathways implicated in diabetic complications, including advanced glycation end products (AGEs), protein kinase C, and hexosamine pathway. Our aim is to investigate the role of GAPDH in the development and progression of diabetic retinopathy and to elucidate the mechanism.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-Rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes were in a state of poor control (GHb Ͼ11%) for 12 months, good control (GHb Ͻ7) soon after induction of diabetes, or poor control for 6 months with 6 months' good control. Retinal GAPDH, its ribosylation and nitration, AGEs, and PKC activation were determined and correlated with microvascular histopathology.RESULTS-In rats with poor control, retinal GAPDH activity and expressions were subnormal with increased ribosylation and nitration (25-30%). GAPDH activity was subnormal in both cytosol and nuclear fractions, but its protein expression and nitration were significantly elevated in nuclear fraction. Reinstitution of good control failed to protect inactivation of GAPDH, its covalent modification, and translocation to the nucleus. PKC, AGEs, and hexosamine pathways remained activated, and microvascular histopathology was unchanged. However, GAPDH and its translocation in good control rats were similar to those in normal rats.CONCLUSIONS-GAPDH plays a significant role in the development of diabetic retinopathy and its progression after cessation of hyperglycemia. Thus, therapies targeted toward preventing its inhibition may inhibit development of diabetic retinopathy and arrest its progression. Diabetes 58:227-234, 2009 R etinopathy is a multifactorial sight-threatening complication of diabetes. It is a progressive disease associated with chronic hyperglycemia (1). Although many glucose-induced retinal metabolic abnormalities are postulated to contribute to its development, the exact mechanism remains elusive (2-5). We have shown that in diabetes, retinal mitochondria experience increased oxidative damage and the mitochondrial enzyme that scavenges superoxide (manganese superoxide dismutase [MnSOD]) prevents vascular histopathology that is characteristic of diabetic retinopathy (6 -8). Increased mitochondrial superoxide production inactivates glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) in vascular endothelial cells, and inhibition of GAPDH is postulated to activate some of the key pathways that are associated with the development of diabetes complications, including increased formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and activation of protein kinase C (PKC) and hexosamine pathway (9,10).GAPDH is a glycolytic enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate to 1,3-bis-phosphoglycerate. Recent studies have shown that GAPDH is a protein with multiple cytoplasmic, membrane, and nuclear fun...