Described are methods for inactivating adenine nucleotide transporter
proteins in specific tissues of a transgenic nonhuman animal using a
conditional knockin/knockout technology such as the Cre-LoxP, Flip-FLP
recombinase, or Tet-on/off technologies. Specifically, the Ant2 gene is
functionally inactivated in a mouse in liver, with or without the
concurrent inactivation of the Ant1 gene. The result is an animal in
which the Ant2 gene and accompanying ANT2 protein is absent in one or
more tissues, either in the presence or absence of the Ant1 gene and
accompanying ANT1 protein. The resulting animals, cells, mitochondria,
and subcelluar fractions such as the mitochondrial permeability
transition pore can then be used to identify agents that affect animal
and/or subcellular function via a direct or indirect interaction with the
ANT2 protein and/or its Ant2 gene.
