Gene expression of two glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) paralogs was examined during Edwardsiella tarda challenge and heavy metal exposures in mud loach (Misgurnus mizolepis; Cypriniformes) kidney and spleen. Transcription of the two mud loach GAPDH paralogs (mlGAPDH-1 and mlGAPDH-2) was significantly modulated by these stimulatory challenges in an isoform-dependent manner. Based on the real-time RT-PCR analysis, the mlGAPDH-2 transcripts were more preferentially induced by E. tarda challenge, whereas the mlGAPDH-1 transcripts were proven to show more inducibility in response to heavy metal exposure using Cd, Cu, Mn and Zn at $5{mu}M$. Their isoform-specific response patterns were closely in accordance with the TF binding profiles in promoter and intron-1 of the two mlGAPDH isoforms, in which the mlGAPDH-2 has more binding sites for immune-related transcription factors than mlGAPDH-1 while the mlGAPDH-1 possesses exclusively metal responsive elements in its intron. Collectively, the mlGAPDHs are potentially involved in cellular pathways independent of glycolysis and the two GAPDH paralogs might undergo functional diversification or subfunctionalization at least at the transcription level.