Lack of Acidification in Mycobacterium Phagosomes Produced by Exclusion of the Vesicular Proton-ATPase

• DOI: 10.1126/science.8303277
• Publication Date: 2006-10-06T00:01:25Z
• Authors: Sheila Sturgill-K...; Paul H. Schlesinger; Prasanta Chakraborty; Pryce L. Haddix; Helen L. Collins; Agnes K. Fok; Richard D. Allen; Stephen L. Gluck; John Heuser; David G. Russell
• Keywords: Immunoelectron microscopy; V-ATPase; Mycobacterium smegmatis

The success of Mycobacterium species as pathogens depends on their ability to maintain an infection inside the phagocytic vacuole macrophage. Although bacteria are reported modulate maturation intracellular vacuoles, nature such modifications is unknown. In this study, vacuoles formed around avium failed acidify below pH 6.3 6.5. Immunoelectron microscopy infected macrophages and immunoblotting isolated phagosomes showed that acquire lysosomal membrane protein LAMP-1, but not vesicular proton-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) responsible for phagosomal acidification. This suggests either a selective inhibition fusion with proton-ATPase-containing vesicles or rapid removal complex from phagosomes.