Biological process

autophagosome-vacuole fusion

The process in which autophagosomes, double-membraned vesicles containing cytoplasmic material, fuse with a vacuole (yeast) or lysosome (e.g. mammals and insects). In the case of yeast, inner membrane-bounded structures (autophagic bodies) appear in the vacuole. Fusion provides an acidic environment and digestive function to the interior of the autophagosome.