Lysosome fusion

Lysosome fusion is a regulated cellular process where the membrane of a lysosome merges with other vesicular compartments, including autophagosomes (in autophagy), endosomes (in endocytosis), or phagosomes (in phagocytosis), resulting in the degradation of vesicle cargo by lysosomal hydrolases[1][2][5][6]. The process is tightly controlled by multiple protein families, notably SNARE proteins (e.g., STX17, SNAP29, VAMP7/VAMP8), Rab GTPases (e.g., Rab7, Arl8b), and large tethering complexes such as HOPS, PLEKHM1, and EPG5[1][4][7]. Dysfunction of lysosome fusion is implicated in several diseases, including neurodegeneration, infection, and lysosomal storage disorders, as it leads to impaired clearance of cellular waste and pathogens[2][7]. Lysosome fusion is not a canonical target for drugs, but its regulatory proteins and related pathways are under investigation for therapeutic modulation in relevant diseases.

Other names

Autophagosome–lysosome fusionPhagosome–lysosome fusionEndosome–lysosome fusionHomotypic lysosome fusionHeterotypic lysosome fusion