The mechanism underlying phagosomal acidification was studied in thioglycolate-elicited murine macrophages. The pH of the phagosomal compartment (pHp) was measured fluorimetrically in macrophage suspensions following ingestion of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled Staphylococcus aureus. At 37 degrees C, pHp decreased rapidly, reaching a steady state value of 5.8-6.1, while the cytoplasmic pH remained near neutrality, pH 7.1. The phagosome to cytosol pH gradient could be collapsed by addition of nigericin, monensin, or weak bases. The substrate dependence and inhibitor sensitivity profile of phagosomal acidification were investigated in intact and permeabilized cells. Phagosomal acidification was inhibited when ATP was depleted using metabolic inhibitors or permeabilizing the plasma membrane by electroporation. In permeabilized cells, acidification could be initiated by readdition of both Mg2+ and ATP. Neither adenosine 5'-(beta,gamma-imido)triphosphate nor adenosine 5'-(gamma-thio)triphosphate supported phagosomal acidification. Inhibitors of F1F0-type H(+)-ATPase such as oligomycin and azide, and the E1E2-type H(+)-ATPase inhibitor vanadate had no effect on phagosomal acidification. In contrast, the rate of phagosomal acidification was reduced by micromolar concentrations of N-ethylmaleimide and N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide. In permeabilized cells, nitrate inhibited the acidification with an apparent Ki of 25 mM. Phagosomal acidification was also effectively blocked by the macrolide antibiotic bafilomycin A1, with an apparent Ki of approximately 3 mM in both intact and electroporated cells. In this concentration range, bafilomycin A1 selectively inhibits vacuolar H(+)-ATPases. The substrate requirement and inhibitor susceptibility profile of phagosomal acidification strongly suggest that proton translocation across the phagosomal membrane is mediated by a vacuolar-type H(+)-ATPase.