Specifically, the PD-linked recessive gene PARKIN, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, plays an essential role in the survival of dopaminergic neurons, mediating both the polyubiquitination and the proteasomal degradation of toxic substrates, including the aminacyl-tRNA synthetase complex interacting multi-functional protein 2 (AIMP2) and the parkin interacting substrate (PARIS)11–14. The gene discussed is AIMP2; the disease is Parkinson disease.