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. 2014 Sep 8;143(2):131–137. doi: 10.1111/imm.12326

Figure 1.

Figure 1

Schematic representation of the cooperation between the enzymatic complex NADPH oxidase and proton channels. The NADPH oxidase is assembled at the plasma membrane or on the membrane of phagosomes following a number of stimuli in phagocytic cells, B cells and T cells.11–14 The enzyme takes electrons (e−) from NADPH and transfers them to molecules of oxygen (O2), generating the radical superoxide anion (O2•−). This highly unstable reactive oxygen species (ROS) is then neutralized by conversion to more stable ROS, such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The activity of the NADPH oxidase results in an accumulation of protons, H+, in the cytosol and an increase in membrane potential, because negative charges are transferred across the membrane. Proton channels can promptly rebalance charges and pH across the membrane.16,18