PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) is a serine/threonine kinase with important functions in mitochondrial quality control. Together with the Parkin protein, PINK1 is able to regulate the selective degradation of damaged mitochondria through autophagy. Normally PINK1 is imported into the mitochondria where it is targeted for proteolytic cleavage. This cleavage event results in unstable products and is the reason PINK1 is difficult to detect in healthy mitochondria.
