Inactivation of GAPDH as one mechanism of acrolein toxicity

► Mechanism of cell toxicity by acrolein was studied using mouse FM3A cells. ► GAPDH was one of the major acrolein-conjugated proteins in cells. ► Acrolein interacted with cysteine-150 at the active site of GAPDH. ► Cell death was enhanced by acrolein-conjugated GAPDH. ► Inactivation of GAPDH is one mechanism of cell toxicity by acrolein.