MOLECULAR BIOLOGICAL AND QUANTITATIVE ABNORMALITIES OF ADP ATP CARRIER PROTEIN IN CARDIOMYOPATHIC HAMSTERS/

The adenine nucleotide translocator or ADP/ATP carrier protein (AAC) i s an integral protein present in the inner mitochondrial membrane, whi ch performs the exchange of cytoplasmic and intramitochondrial ADP and ATP The myocardial AAC content was studied in J-2-N cardiomyopathic h amsters. The AAC content was found to be significantly decreased in J- 2-N hamsters For molecular biological analysis hamster AAC (TI isoenzy me) cDNA was cloned by the plaque hybridization method. This AAC cDNA hybridized specifically with AAC mRNA, so RNA dot-blot hybridization w as performed. The highest AAC mRNA level was observed in control hamst ers followed by J-2-N hamsters with mild myocardial damage, J-2-N hams ters with severe myocardial damage and Bio 14.6 cardiomyopathic hamste rs. These results suggest that a decreased AAC content may contribute to the pathogenesis of cardiomyopathy and that a decrease of AAC mRNA levels may explain the abnormalities of AAC in J-2-N cardiomyopathic h amsters.