Inhibition of amino acid incorporation into protein of human neutrophils by phagocytosis.

The incorporation of uniformly labeled (14)C-amino acids into total protein of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes is inhibited when the cells are challenged with heat-killed Escherichia coli or latex particles. Parallel studies of amino acid incorporation and glucose oxidation indicate that the inhibition is dependent upon ingestion of the particles. It is suggested that the process of phagocytosis might inhibit the transport of amino acids into the cell either by competing for available energy or by internalizing specific transport sites.