Molecular biologic Changes of Adenine Nucleotide Translocator in J-2-N Cardiomyopathic Hamsters

Abstract

The adenine nucleotide translocator (ANT) is an integral protein present in the inner mitochondrial membrane that performs the exchange of cytoplasmic and intramitochondrial ADP and ATP. The ANT content of the myocardium was studied in J-2-N cardiomyopathic hamsters. The ANT content was significantly decreased in J-2-N hamsters. By molecular biologic analysis, hamster ANT cDNA of the Tl isoenzyme was cloned by the plaque hybridization method. The ANT cDNA hybridized specifically with ANT mRNA, so RNA dot-blot hybridization was performed. The highest ANT mRNA level was observed in control hamsters followed by J-2-N hamsters with mild myocardial damage, J-2-N hamsters with severe myocardial damage, and Bio 14.6 cardiomyopathic hamsters. These results suggest that a decreased ANT content may contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy and that a decrease in ANT mRNA levels may explain the abnormalities of ANT in J-2-N cardiomyopathic hamsters.