Autophagosome–lysosome fusion

Autophagosome–lysosome fusion is a cellular process rather than a single molecule or receptor. It represents the critical final step in macroautophagy where double-membraned autophagosomes fuse with lysosomes to form autolysosomes. This event enables the degradation and recycling of sequestered cytoplasmic material by lysosomal hydrolases[3][6]. The process is orchestrated by multiple protein complexes and factors, including SNARE proteins (such as Syntaxin 17, SNAP29, VAMP8), Rab GTPases (notably RAB7), tethering complexes like HOPS, actin cytoskeleton regulators, and phosphoinositide-modifying enzymes such as INPP5E[1][4][6]. Disruption or dysfunction in this pathway has been implicated in various diseases including neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., Parkinson’s disease), cancer, and lysosomal storage diseases due to impaired cellular clearance mechanisms[2][6]. This term does not refer to a discrete therapeutic target such as an enzyme or receptor but rather describes a multi-step vesicular trafficking event involving numerous molecular players. Therefore it should not be considered a canonical drug target itself; instead, individual proteins involved in this process may serve as potential therapeutic targets. If you are seeking structured information for drug discovery purposes or database curation on "Autophagosome–lysosome fusion," it is advisable to focus on specific molecular components mediating this event—such as Syntaxin 17 or RAB7—instead of the overall cellular process.

Other names

Autophagosome-lysosome fusionAutolysosome formationAV-lysosome fusionMacroautophagy terminal step

Inhibition of SNARE-mediated membrane fusion (e.g., by EACC)