Our results that PD-linked PINK1 mutations specifically inhibit PINK1 kinase function without affecting the substrate binding or subcellular localization of PINK1 raise an interesting possibility that these mutants may act in a dominant negative manner to inhibit the function of the normal PINK1 allele by competing with endogenous wild-type PINK1 for binding its substrate TRAP1. This evidence concerns the gene TRAP1 and Parkinson disease.