Fusion of the membrane of a transport vesicle with its target membrane.

The major inducible pathway for the general turnover of cytoplasmic constituents in eukaryotic cells, it is also responsible for the degradation of active cytoplasmic enzymes and organelles during nutrient starvation. Macroautophagy involves the formation of double-membrane-bounded autophagosomes which enclose the cytoplasmic constituent targeted for degradation in a membrane-bounded structure. Autophagosomes then fuse with a lysosome (or vacuole) releasing single-membrane-bounded autophagic bodies that are then degraded within the lysosome (or vacuole). Some types of macroautophagy, e.g. pexophagy, mitophagy, involve selective targeting of the targets to be degraded.

A cytoplasm to vacuole targeting pathway that uses machinery common with autophagy. The Cvt vesicle is formed when the receptor protein, Atg19, binds to the complexes of the target protein (aminopeptidase or alpha-mannosidase homododecamers), forming the Cvt complex. Atg11 binds to Atg9 and transports the Cvt complex to the pre-autophagosome (PAS). The phagophore membrane expands around the Cvt complex (excluding bulk cytoplasm) forming the Cvt vesicle. This pathway is mostly observed in yeast.

Degradation of a cell nucleus by lysosomal microautophagy.

The fusion of two vacuole membranes to form a single vacuole.

The fusion of two vacuole membranes to form a single vacuole.

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.

The lipid bilayer surrounding a vacuole, the shape of which correlates with cell cycle phase. The membrane separates its contents from the cytoplasm of the cell. An example of this structure is found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The lipid bilayer surrounding a vacuole, the shape of which correlates with cell cycle phase. The membrane separates its contents from the cytoplasm of the cell. An example of this structure is found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The lipid bilayer surrounding a vacuole, the shape of which correlates with cell cycle phase. The membrane separates its contents from the cytoplasm of the cell. An example of this structure is found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Punctate structures proximal to the endoplasmic reticulum which are the sites where the Atg machinery assembles upon autophagy induction.

A protein complex involved in membrane fusion; a stable ternary complex consisting of a four-helix bundle, usually formed from one R-SNARE and three Q-SNAREs with an ionic layer sandwiched between hydrophobic layers. One well-characterized example is the neuronal SNARE complex formed of synaptobrevin 2, syntaxin 1a, and SNAP-25.

A protein complex involved in membrane fusion; a stable ternary complex consisting of a four-helix bundle, usually formed from one R-SNARE and three Q-SNAREs with an ionic layer sandwiched between hydrophobic layers. One well-characterized example is the neuronal SNARE complex formed of synaptobrevin 2, syntaxin 1a, and SNAP-25.