A New Molecular Target Discovered for Polycystic Kidney…

A New Molecular Target Discovered for Polycystic Kidney Disease Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, or ADPKD, is the most common inherited kidney disorder, a condition where fluid-filled cysts gradually grow throughout the kidneys, eventually leading to kidney failure in many patients. A new study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology has identified a previously unknown molecular driver behind this progression and a potential new therapeutic target. Scientists have long known that ADPKD involves a shift in how kidney cells produce energy, relying more heavily on a process called glycolysis, which leads to a buildup of lactate inside cells. What remained unclear was exactly how cells were sensing and using this excess lactate to fuel cyst growth. This study identifies an enzyme called AARS1 as the missing link. AARS1 responds to lactate and uses it to chemically modify certain