Here we identify Mon1p as being essential for the cvt-pathway and autophagy. Thus, mon1Delta cells are impaired in proaminopeptidase I maturation and homozygous diploid mon1Delta cells do not sporulate. Quantitative autophagy measurements suggest a complete autophagy block. The autophagosomal marker protein GFP-Aut7p accumulates in mon1Delta cells at punctate structures outside the vacuole. Furthermore, proaminopeptidase I accumulates in mon1Delta cells in a proteinase-protected form. Our data demonstrate that mon1Delta cells are defective in the fusion of cvt-vesicles and autophagosomes with the vacuole. Consistent with this, GFP-Mon1p localizes to the cytosol and to punctate structures within the cytosol.