Loss of the Thioretinaco Ozonide Oxygen Adenosine Triphosphate Complex from Mitochondria Produces Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Carcinogenesis.

The active site of oxidative phosphorylation and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) biosynthesis is proposed to consist of thioretinaco, a complex of two molecules of thioretinamide with cobalamin, oxidized to the disulfonium derivative, thioretinaco ozonide, and complexed with oxygen, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, inorganic phosphate and ATP. Reduction of the active site complex by electrons from mitochondrial electron transport complexes releases ATP from binding to the active site, producing nicotinamide riboside and hydroperoxide and generating a membrane potential from proton transport to the active site. Opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore from decreased mitochondrial melatonin leads to loss of the active site complex from mitochondrial membranes, as observed in aging and dementia. Loss of the active site complex from mitochondria also results from opening of the permeability transition pore and from decomposition of the disulfonium active site by electrophilic carcinogens, oncogenic viruses and microbes which cause depletion of adenosyl methionine because of increased biosynthesis of polyamines, and by free radical oxygen species generated by ionizing radiation, and by catecholamines. Thus the loss of thioretinaco ozonide from mitochondria produces the impaired oxidative phosphorylation, oxidative stress, calcium influx, apoptosis, aerobic glycolysis, and mitochondrial dysfunction that are observed in chemical carcinogenesis, microbial carcinogenesis, traumatic brain injury, aging and dementia.