We have used the pH-dependent fluorochrome fluorescein-dextran (FD) to study the acidification of prelysosomal vacuoles (endosomes) and lysosomes isolated from cultured macrophages and fibroblasts. FD was internalized by pinocytosis under conditions that allowed its selective localization in endosomes (1- to 5-min pulse) or in lysosomes (5-min pulse, 30-min chase). Fibroblasts were also exposed to FD at 20 degrees C, at which temperature endosome-lysosome fusion is inhibited. Cells were homogenized and labeled organelles were separated by centrifugation in Percoll density gradients. The addition of ATP rapidly decreased the internal pH of both endosomes and lysosomes, as indicated by a decrease in fluorescence intensity. The pH gradient was dissipated by H+ ionophores and ammonium chloride. Acidification was not affected by inhibitors of the mitochondrial F1, F0-ATPase or the Na+, K, K+-ATPase and did not require permeant anions, Na+, or K+. Of the inhibitors tested, only N-ethylmaleimide prevented the ATP-dependent acidification of both compartments. These findings provide direct support for the existence of an acidic prelysosomal compartment that may be acidified via the same type of H+ pump believed to operate in lysosomes and secretory granules.