Much less convincing in our view is the idea that deficient control by the 'cholinergic ant-inflammatory pathway' is a significant factor leading to the onset or exacerbation of arthritis [ 47].
In WT mouse skeletal muscle mitochondria after 5 min incubation with succinate, the relative contributions of UCP3, ANT and other pathways to proton conductance were 15 20%, 50 55% and 25 30% respectively.
This suggests that the proton conductance and nucleotide translocation pathways in ANT are behaviourally and perhaps physically distinct.
Skeletal muscle mitochondria, when energized with succinate, show a time-dependent uncoupling via an endogenous activation of UCP3, ANT and other uncoupling pathways [ 16]. Figure 1 shows the effect of mitochondrial energization on HNE-stimulated proton leak.
These regions are known to be involved in defense mechanisms against pathogens (NsLTP, SAMC), adaptation to various environmental stresses (RS16, CPSI, LHCP, CAB, PSI-III-CAB), regulation of Programmed Cell Death (RL41, ANT) and protein turnover pathways (SEM, GCvT) (Table 1).
The results of the present study also imply that the proton conductance pathway is distinct from the nucleotide translocation pathway in ANT.
But even ants can get it wrong; sometimes a whole group of ants may bolt for a single exit, when more than one is available, and individual ants can panic, blocking pathways or intersections, making it hard for others to escape.
These results indicate that haem and ADP are transported into mitochondria through a common pathway comprising ANT.
Uncoupling occurs through UCP3 (11%), ANT (64%) and other pathways (25%).
Overall, our findings indicate that there are at least two pathways by which ANT deficiency can lead to pathological tissue dysfunction, and the sesB model now allows these to be explored in further detail.
Perched on the eighth floor of one of the blocks that surround Central Park, its bay windows frame a panorama of glistening reservoir, sculpted hills and a lattice-work of pathways populated by ant-like joggers.
