Mitochondrial dysfunction and neuronal demise: Insights provided by Parkinson’s disease genes

Converging research efforts have recently identified five genes that are associated with familial Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a condition associated with severe motor dysfunction and loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain. These genes include α-synuclein, Parkin, DJ-1, Pink1, LRRK2. It is striking that all of them have been linked directly or indirectly with the function of mitochondria, small ubiquitous intracellular organelles found in all cells.