CDKAL1 dysfunction impairs lysine codon translation in podocytes and accelerates chronic kidney disease

Cdk5 regulatory subunit-associated protein 1-like 1 (Cdkal1) encodes a tRNA-modifying enzyme responsible for thiomethylation generating 2-methylthio-N⁶-threonylcarbamoyladenosine (ms²t⁶A) in the anticodon loop of tRNA^Lys_UUU. Genome-wide association studies have identified CDKAL1 variants as risk factors for type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), but whether CKD arises independently of diabetes has remained elusive. H