Our previous studies showed that renal proximal tubular cells (RPTC) express Ca 21 -independent phospholipase A 2 g (iPLA 2 g) in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria and that iPLA 2 g prevents and/or repairs lipid peroxidation induced by oxidative stress. Our present studies determined the importance of iPLA 2 g in mitochondrial and cell function using an iPLA 2 g-specific small hairpin ribonucleic acid (shRNA) adenovirus. iPLA 2 g expression and activity were decreased in the ER by 24 h and in the mitochondria by 48 h compared with scrambled shRNA adenovirus-treated cells. Lipid peroxidation was elevated by 2-fold at 24 h and remained elevated through 72 h in cells with decreased iPLA 2 g. Using electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry, primarily phosphatidylcholines and phosphatidylethanolamines were increased in iPLA 2 g-shRNA-treated cells. At 48 h after exposure to the iPLA 2 g shRNA, uncoupled oxygen consumption was inhibited by 25% and apoptosis was observed at 72 and 96 h. RPTC with decreased iPLA 2 g expression underwent apoptosis when exposed to a nonlethal concentration of the oxidant tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP). Exposure of control cells to a nonlethal concentration of TBHP induced iPLA 2 g expression in RPTC. These results suggest that iPLA 2 g is required for the prevention and repair of basal lipid peroxidation and the maintenance of mitochondrial function and viability, providing further evidence for a cytoprotective role for iPLA 2 g from oxidative stress.