| Abstract: | Resident and thioglycollate-elicited macrophages maintained in culture for 24 h contain approximately 5 x 10(-16) and 12 x 10(-16) mol of ATP per cell, respectively. During particle ingestion, the levels of ATP in these cells did not change. However, the specific activity of ATP extracted from macrophages labeled with 32P]Pi during phagocytosis was 40% lower than ATP extracted from control cells. These results suggested that macrophages contain a high energy phosphate reservoir, in addition to the ATP pool(s). A search for such a reservoir led to the identification of creatine phosphate in both resident and thioglycollate-elicited macrophages at concentrations that are in 3- to 5-fold-molar excess over ATP. Creatine phosphate levels in phagocytosing resident macrophages decreased by 45%, while creatine phosphate levels in phagocytosing thioglycollate-elicited macrophages did not change. Creatine phosphate turnover was measured in macrophages prelabeled with 14C]creatine. Over 90% of the intracellular label was in the form of creatine phosphate. During phagocytosis, there was a 40% decrease in intracellular 14C]creatine phosphate in both resident and thioglycollate-elicited macrophages. These results indicate that creatine phosphate turns over more rapidly during phagocytosis and replenishes the ATP consumed. |
