PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) is a mitochondrial serine/threonine protein kinase which is believed to protect cells from stress-induced mitochondrial degradation. PINK1 is also responsible for regulating degradation of damaged mitochondria via selective autophagy (mitophagy), and is required for PARK2 inidiated mitochondrial degradation. Mutations in this gene cause one form of autosomal recessive early-onset Parkinson's disease.