An Overview of Commonly Used Rodent Models for Studying PINK1

Mutations in the PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1)  gene cause autosomal recessive, young onset Parkinson’s disease (PD). The PD-linked mutations in PINK1 lead to loss of expression/function of the PINK1 protein, which is a kinase that localizes to mitochondria and phosphorylates ubiquitin and Parkin. PINK1 has been shown to function in mitophagy and in restraining immune responses. Preclinical models for PINK1-linked PD are based on reducing or eliminating the activity of the PINK1 protein, either through genetic knockout or knockin of loss-of-function mutations. This overview document from the Preclinical Tools and Models Team at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF) contains commonly used animal models of PD linked to PINK1 mutations. Please note, this list is by no means comprehensive.