Bafilomycin A1 inhibits V-ATPases by binding to the V0 subunit, thereby preventing the proton pump from acidifying lysosomes and other vesicles. This inhibition disrupts the acidic environment necessary for lysosomal enzyme activity, leading to dysregulation of cellular homeostasis. In the context of cancer, this disruption can interfere with autophagy, a process that tumor cells often exploit for survival under stress conditions such as hypoxia and nutrient deprivation.
